§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total weekly cost of benefits paid to those awaiting determination of their application for asylum in the United Kingdom as at 12 October. [41497]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe latest figures available are in the November 1994 quarterly statistical inquiry. This indicates there were about 42,000 asylum seekers in834W receipt of income support. The estimated cost of income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit payments to those people was about £5 million per week. The information is not available for other benefits.