The Liberal Democrats want to allow asylum seekers to be able to look for jobs as soon as they come to the UK, rather than the six-month restriction that currently applies.

The party, unveiling its mini-manifesto on ethnic minorities, said yesterday that the voucher scheme for asylum seekers would be abolished and added that local authorities would be properly compensated for the costs of supporting refugees.

Labour's policy of dispersing asylum seekers around the country was yesterday attacked by the British Medical Association as "inhumane" and "detrimental to health". The doctors' body joins attacks made by the Refugee Council, Oxfam and trade unions on aspects of the asylum system.

TGWU leader Bill Morris will later this week use a speech to the TUC Black Workers Conference to call for the voucher system to be replaced with cash benefits.