URGENT: Government Launches Emergency Probe into Asylum Seeker Taxi Scandal

BREAKING NEWS Home Secretary Orders Urgent Review into Asylum Seeker Taxi Scandal The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has launched an emergency probe into the use and cost of taxis to transport asylum seekers from their hotels to appointments. The review follows a BBC investigation that revealed some migrants were being forced to travel long distances at exorbitant costs. A shocking example emerged of one asylum seeker who took a 250-mile journey to visit a GP, with the driver telling him the cost to the Home Office was £600. Asylum seekers are issued with a bus pass for one return journey per week, but taxis are called for any other necessary travel. The government has been criticized for not keeping track of taxi costs, despite being asked to provide figures through a Freedom of Information Act request. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden has backed the investigation, saying it was "questionable" why asylum seekers needed to use taxis in the first place. This move comes after housing minister Matthew Maycock expressed concerns about the issue on Tuesday. The review is expected to shed light on the scale of the problem and provide recommendations for change. This is a developing story, with further updates to follow as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Bbc.*