§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate she has made of the number of asylum seekers claiming income support benefit in the years(a) 1992–93, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96, (d) 1996–97 and 1997–98; [37969]
(2) what estimate she has made of the sums paid in income support benefit to asylum seekers in (a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96, (e) 1996–97 and (f) 1997–98. [37970]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe information is set out in the table.
Asylum seekers—average annual income support caseloads and estimated annual expenditure Year Average annual income support asylum seekers caseload Estimated annual income support asylum seekers expenditure (£ million) 1992–93 36,000 98 1993–94 40,000 112 1994–95 42,000 123 1995–96 48,000 140 1996–97 51,000 154 1997–98 50,000 157 Notes:
- 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.
- 2. Estimated annual expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest million pounds.
- 3. Sample size 5 per cent.
- 4. Figures from February 1997 onwards will include a number of non-asylum seekers who receive Urgent Case Payments for other reasons.
Source:
Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, February 1993 to May 1997.