§ Mrs. MaddockI beg to move amendment No. 148, in page 91, leave out from line 34 to line 2 on page 92.
§ Madam Deputy SpeakerWith this, it will be convenient to discuss amendment No. 14, in page 91, line 39, leave out from 'regulations' to end of line 41 and insert
'shall not apply to a person who is not unlawfully in the UK'.
§ Mrs. MaddockAmendment No. 148 would remove the Secretary of State's power to make regulations excluding persons from abroad from receiving housing assistance under part VII—a proposal that has the support of many people who have to deal with persons who come to our country and are in housing need.
Clause 160 empowers the Secretary of State to exclude certain groups of people from emergency housing, and, although they are not defined, the Department proposes that they should be groups who are ineligible for housing benefit. We want to ensure that they still receive housing advice. I hope that the Minister will look favourably on that proposal, which has widespread support.
§ Mr. CurryThe issue raised by these amendments is whether people who have sought leave to enter the country on the understanding that they should have no recourse to public funds should be entitled to set aside 1034 that undertaking. The immigration rules state explicitly that the homelessness legislation falls within the definition of public funds.
People who have applied for asylum after entering the country will have obtained their leave to enter by satisfying the entry clearance officer that they have the resources to maintain themselves. Only 5 per cent, of asylum applications are eventually accepted; even allowing for exceptional leave granted on compassionate grounds, the refusal rate is still 79 per cent.
The purpose of the homelessness legislation is to ensure that families of vulnerable individuals who lose their home through no fault of their own are provided with a proper safety net. It is one component of a wider set of welfare provisions that we have in place to help people through a crisis and continue their normal lives, but it focuses, naturally and rightly, on people who are settled in this country.
I appreciate the hon. Lady's concerns, but she will know that I must ensure that there is consistency between the proposed legislation and legislation passed by the House. She will understand, therefore, that I must reject her amendments.
§ Mrs. MaddockI understand what the Minister has said, but I wish to press the amendment. If the Government want to shout it down, they can do so.
§ Amendment negatived.