§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the sums paid in housing benefit to asylum seekers in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96, (e) 1996–97 and (f) 1997–98. [37971]
§ Mr. Keith Bradley[holding answer 6 April 1998]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.
Estimate of sums paid in Housing Benefit to Asylum seekers £ million Financial year Estimated housing benefit expenditure 1993–94 160 1994–95 150 1995–96 140 1996–97 120 Sources:
- 1. Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample of claimants also in receipt of Income Support, at the end of May for each year shown.
- 2. Departmental Report.
Notes:
- 1. The information requested is not available for May 1992 and is not yet available for May 1997.
- 2. Expenditure figures are estimates and have been calculated using the Housing Benefit Management System 1 per cent. sample and Departmental Reports. Estimates are based only on cases recorded on the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry as being asylum seekers. They therefore exclude other claimants in receipt of Urgent Case Payments who may in fact be asylum seekers, but are not identified as such. They also exclude any asylum seekers, in receipt of Housing Benefit who are not in receipt of Income Support, although the number of these cases is thought to be very small.
- 3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five million pounds.