§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances his Department allows access to confidential information held about asylum seekers to(a) the Child Support Agency and (b) other Government Departments or agencies. [619]
14W
§ Mr. KirkhopeDetails of an asylum claim are treated as confidential. The fact that a person is an asylum seeker is, however, disclosed where necessary in order to protect public funds, in particular where entitlement to a benefit or service is conditional on asylum seeker status. Disclosure is regularly made to the Benefits Agency and local authority housing departments for this purpose. Information about an asylum claim is not disclosed to departments or agencies not involved in consideration of the claim, such as the Child Support Agency, otherwise than in exceptional circumstances, for example where the police require it for the purposes of a criminal investigation.