The booklet discusses how the asylum system works

Amnesty International said that Scotland has seen an improved welcome for immigrants but believes there are still issues to address.

The booklet, which has been backed by the Scottish Refugee Council, covers the numbers of asylum seekers in the UK, their rights and the problems they face.

Amnesty International said it hoped to improve debate, promote analysis and change public perceptions.

Research conducted by Oxfam has found that media coverage of asylum issues could be "negative to the point of being hostile".

As a charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers we have a duty to ensure that the relevant facts are in the public domain Sally Daghlian Scottish Refugee Council

The new booklet aims to address this by providing information on immigration and asylum, work rights, figures for asylum seekers, the reasons why they leave their countries and why they come to the UK.

It shows that there are currently about 12,000 asylum seekers across Scotland, with individuals receiving about 70% of the support and benefits of the average UK citizen.

It also highlights issues of falling birth rates and increasing skills shortages north of the border, problems which the Scottish Executive has pledged to address.

The executive has already put forward proposals to try and attract more skilled immigrants and international students to Scotland.

Sally Daghlian, the Scottish Refugee Council's chief executive said: "As a charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers we have a duty to ensure that the relevant facts are in the public domain and readily available.

"This guide provides a wide range of information and also the necessary contacts to access further information on asylum issues."

The guide has also received support from Oxfam and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).