HL Deb 03 November 2004 vol 666 cc35-6WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is (a) the total spend of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) in 2003–04; and (b) its budget for 2004–05; and why no accounting information is provided on the NASS website. [HL4386]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)

The NASS total expenditure consisting of asylum support, administration and grant was £1,124 million for 2002–03. The final out turn for NASS for 2003–04 is not yet available. I will write to the noble Lord again when the 2003–04 accounts have been certified by the National Audit Office.

The total resource budget for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) (which includes NASS) in 2004–05 is £1,657 million. The NASS budget is an internal allocation of the overall IND budget and is not published separately.