§ 20. Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the social security rules governing benefits to asylum seekers. [896]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyAs I have already made clear to the House, we intend to carry out a wide-ranging review of the social security system. As part of that review, we will consider the position of all claimants, including asylum seekers.
§ Mr. CohenWill my right hon. Friend—sorry, my hon. Friend, who is no doubt soon to become "right hon."—denounce the wicked Tories of the previous Administration for starving the families of lawful asylum seekers whose only crime was to wait for their appeal to be heard? Will he ensure a much more fair and humane system?
§ Mr. BradleyI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that rapid elevation.
I entirely agree that the problem has been the length of the process for determining applications. We must set in train a system that speeds it up. As part of our wide-ranging review, we will hold discussions with the Home Office, the Department of Health and other Departments to ensure that asylum seekers are treated fairly.