B1 – Intermediate
A BBC investigation found that asylum seekers would take taxis to go to the doctor. This costs the UK government more or less 15.8 million pounds every year.
The British government will be prohibiting transferring them by taxis starting February 2026 in an effort to reduce the government’s cost on the asylum seekers’ medical appointment transfers.
Listen to the audio and read the transcript on asylum seekers’ systematic use of cabs for visiting their doctor’s appointments costing the UK Home Office millions of pounds per year.
https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/asylum-seekers-use-taxis-to-go-to-the-doctors-level-3
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “asylum seeker” mean? “Ministers hope that requiring asylum seekers to use public transport for routine medical needs will significantly reduce this expense.” Use the phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
- What does “to root out” mean? “Although the ban targets medical transport specifically, ministers intend to extend the principle of using taxis only in exceptional circumstances across all asylum accommodation transfers to root out waste.” Use the idiom in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
- What does “expose” mean? “This policy change follows a BBC investigation that exposed systematic use of cabs, including extreme examples such as a 250-mile journey for a GP visit, costing the Home Office 600 pounds.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
Discussion Questions:
- Share your opinion about banning asylum seekers to use taxis to go to their doctor appointments. Do you agree or disagree with it? Explain.
- Share your insight on this, “Transport costs for asylum seekers, which the government has confirmed averages 15.8 million pounds (more than 18 million euros) per year.”
- What is your opinion about requiring asylum seekers to use public transport for routine medical needs?
- Is there a similar problem in your country? Talk about it.
- What kind of help or assistance does your country offer to asylum seekers?