The British government this week announced changes in its immigration laws to try to stem the flow of asylum seekers into the United Kingdom.

The new act especially pertains to Lithuania, which the British officials said has had a considerably high rate of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom. "Over 2,000 Lithuanian citizens have applied during this period for political asylum in the United Kingdom. Not one of these people has actually got asylum," said British Ambassador Christopher Robbins at an April 4 press conference."They have, in abusing our system, brought their own country into disrepute and they have harmed the cause of genuine asylum seekers and they have cost the British and the Lithu-anian government considerable sums of money," Robbins added.While Lithuania is by no means a leader of illegals in Britain, Robbins did stress the need for the country to curb its percentage of asylum seekers in Britain."The proportion of international claims for asylum has been very high in relation to the population of this country," he said. Robbins pointed to three factors causing bogus Lithuanian asylum claims: Applicants for asylum in Britain are allowed to move freely while their claims are being processed, applicants were allowed to receive benefits, including cash, social security and housing allowances, and third, the claims took several months to be processed. Asylum seekers not held in detention will be given accommodation on a "no-choice" basis and sent to various areas across the UK. "Essential living needs will be provided in kind, normally by the payment of vouchers, not as cash," Tarry added. There are some special provisions for Lithuanian asylum seekers. Those who land at Dover, Gatwick and Heathrow airports will now be sent to an asylum center at Oakington Barracks in Cambridgeshire, where they will be detained until their case is heard, Tarry explained. "This new camp will allow the immigration authorities to deal very quickly with straightforward cases. Our previous history has shown that Lithuanian citizens applying for political asylum normally fall into this fast-track, straightforward system. Those people with unfounded claims will be sent home almost immediately."