THERE were concerning reports over the weekend about the treatment of asylum seekers in Cardiff by the company Clearsprings, which is contracted by the Home Office.

I raised the issue in the Commons with the Immigration Minister on Monday, saying: “I want to ask the Minister specifically about the treatment and dignity of children asylum seekers and their families when they arrive in this country. He will be well aware of the concerns expressed about Clearsprings, which operates accommodation in my constituency and in that of my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff Central (Jo Stevens), stigmatising asylum seekers by forcing them to wear red bands, but I have heard reports of short-notice evictions, lack of female housing workers and asylum seekers being forced to sign documents before seeing properties. Shockingly, I was told by the Home Office that a manager may enter an individual’s bedroom without consent. Will the Minister investigate that company and find out what exactly is going on in the treatment of those vulnerable individuals?”

Many of those seeking asylum are fleeing persecution and war, and it does not reflect well on this country that they should be met with stigmatisation and alienation by those in authority – which in turn can lead to public abuse, as some have claimed.

It is excellent news that my Cardiff Labour colleague Jo Stevens and public pressure has pushed Clearsprings to back down on the red wristbands. However there are many other serious concerns that need to be answered by the company and the government about their treatment of such vulnerable individuals.

Friday and Saturday were busy days in the constituency. Alongside my usual constituent meetings, I joined schoolchildren for an interactive lesson on safety on the railways courtesy of Network Rail; and met Emily Peters and Bronwen Lloyd, who are the Vale's representatives to the UK Youth Parliament, to talk about the living wage, votes at 16, and the excellent new UKYP campaign on tackling racism and attacks on religious communities.

I had a great meeting with Hub Cymru Africa which supports local organisations working on Africa, international development and fair trade; and I called in at the Penarth and District Lesotho Trust fundraising book sale at Stanwell Road Baptist Church hall. I also had a chance to flag the good work PADLT and HCA are doing, alongside other Welsh organisations, during the Backbench Business debate on Central and East Africa on Monday.