HL Deb 07 September 2004 vol 664 cc128-9WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to ensure that the National Asylum Support Service website gives up-to-date information about the management, budgets and accounts of the organisation. [HL3883]

Baroness Scotland of Ashtal

The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) website underwent a significant review in December 2003 and its content is kept updated under regular review. We do not publish individual directorate budgets or accounts.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the total spend of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) in 2003–04; what is its budget for 2004–05; and on what estimates of the number of asylum seekers receiving full NASS support and income-only support respectively (and in each case for what average length of time) the budget is based. [HL3882]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

NASS total expenditure consisting of asylum support, administration and grant was £1,124 million for 2002–03. The final outturn for NASS for 2003–04 is not yet available.

The total resource budget for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (which includes NASS) in 2004–05 is £1,657 million. The allocation of funding for NASS is not based solely on numbers of asylum seekers but takes into account a range of factors including direct and indirect support costs and cost reduction initiatives.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will give details of the property contracts entered into by the National Asylum Support Service, giving in each case the value of the contract, the number of dwellings to which it relates, their capacity, and the date on which the contract expires. [HL3884]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Information relating to the contracts National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has with accommodation providers cannot be released because it is commercial in confidence. However I am able to say that NASS has 22 contracts across all providers. Fourteen of the contracts are due to expire between March and November 2005. The remaining eight contracts are due to expire in 2006. In 2002–03, the last year for which figures are available, NASS spent £594 million on accommodation.