§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer given by Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish on 7th November 1996 (WA 74), what was the number and proportion of in-country applicants who applied for asylum within one week of arriving in the United Kingdom there referred to, and what was the cost of providing benefits to such in-country applicants.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)Between April 1995 and March 1996 inclusive, 5,000 asylum seekers applied for asylum within one week of their arriving in the United Kingdom. This figure represents 17 per cent. of the total number of asylum applications made.
The cost of providing benefits to these asylum applicants up to the initial decision on their asylum application would have been approximately £30 million in 1997–98 if restrictions to the benefit provision for asylum seekers had not been introduced.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer given by Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish on 7th November 1996 (WA 74), what was the "behavioural impact" there referred to and upon what assumptions was that impact assessed and calculated.
§ Lord Mackay of ArdbrecknishWhen costing the three-day grace period amendment, it was anticipated that the amendment could prompt some potential asylum seekers to lodge their applications earlier than they would otherwise do. Allowance for this behavioural impact was made by assuming in the costings that those who currently lodge their applications within a week of arriving in the United Kingdom would lodge their claim within three days if the grace period applied.