§ Lady Olga MaitlandTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the cost to the Exchequer of giving social security and benefits and other benefits to those who are also seeking political asylum.
§ Mr. HagueThe estimated annual cost of paying income support to asylum seekers is £102 million. Records are not held on their claims to other benefits.
Source: Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 1993.
§ Lady Olga MaitlandTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants there are currently seeking political asylum; and how many are also successfully claiming social security.
§ Mr. HagueAt the end of February 1994 the estimated number of applications for asylum outstanding was 47,100.1 The number of asylum seekers claiming income support was 37,000 in May 1993, the latest month for which statistics are available.2
Source: 1Home Office2Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 1993