§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many persons receiving(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit he expects to lose their entitlement on 8 January 1996 as a result of the determination of a claim for asylum on or after 12 October 1995; and what would be the cost in 1996–97 of preserving that entitlement; [40612]
(2) how many persons receiving income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit, respectively, he expects to lose their entitlement on 8 January 1996 as a 380W result of having claimed benefit as asylum seekers on or after 12 October 1995; and what would be the cost in 1996–97 of preserving that entitlement. [40625]
§ Mr. Roger Evans[holding answer 31 October 1995]: It is estimated that following an asylum decision in the period after 12 October, some 7,000 existing asylum seekers who applied for benefits before that date may lose their entitlement when the regulations come into effect. The gross cost of preserving those entitlements during any appeals process in 1996–97 is estimated at £15 million. This does not allow for those who may have lost their entitlement under the previous regulations.
A further 6,000 in-country asylum seekers who are expected to claim benefit after 12 October may also lose their entitlement to benefits when the regulations come into effect. The gross cost of preserving those entitlements in 1996–97 is estimated at £30 million. This extra cost arising because their entitlements would have to be preserved during the initial decision making process as well as any appeals process.
Asylum seekers are separately identified only in the income support scheme. Approximately 55 per cent. of asylum seekers in receipt of income support are also in receipt of housing benefit. Some 15 per cent. are also in receipt of council tax benefit.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) which countries have been notified to him by the Home Secretary as having(a) before 12 October 1995 and (b) on or after 12 October 1995 undergone a significant upheaval; and how many asylum seekers from each of those countries have claimed income support since 12 October; [40626]
(2) if people claiming asylum while in Great Britain on or after 12 October 1995 as a result of a significant upheaval in their country of origin which occurred before 12 October will be treated as asylum seekers for purposes of entitlement to benefit. [40628]