§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect on asylum applicants of his decision to withdraw special funding to the Immigration and Advisory Service and the Refugee Legal Centre in 1998–99.[27168]
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§ Mr. Mike O'BrienA final decision will be taken when representations from both organisations have been fully considered.
A very small proportion of those appealing against the refusal of asylum would be affected by a decision to discontinue the funding under the Spend to Save initiative. This funding is presently provided on an annual basis, in addition to their ongoing grant in aid, to the Refugee Legal Centre (RLC) and the Immigration Advisory Service (IAS). IAS and RLC were aware of the short-term nature of the provision when they accepted it.