HC Deb 06 March 1991 vol 187 c172W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the annual total saving to his Department derived from reducing the level of income support payment granted to asylum seekers.

Miss Widdecombe

Asylum seekers are entitled to 90 per cent. of the appropriate personal allowance. If the full allowances were paid, the estimated additional cost would be around £2.5 million per year.