§ Ms AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in respect of the effect of the changes to be made on 8 January 1996 on the claiming of benefit by asylum seekers with particular reference to access to housing. [1230]
§ Mr. Roger EvansProposals on social security payments to asylum seekers and other persons from abroad were presented to the Social Security Advisory Committee on 11 October. The committee has carried out a public consultation on these proposals and has received representations from many individuals and organisations, including housing associations and local authorities. The committee is now evaluating those responses and we expect to receive its report in December.
§ Ms AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many sponsored immigrants are subject to a signed undertaking as defined in the Immigration Act 1971 given by another person or persons; how many of them are now receiving(a) income support, (b) housing benefit (c) council tax benefit (d) family credit (e) attendance allowance (f) disability living allowance (g) disability working allowance (h) invalid care allowance and (i) severe disablement allowance, indicating in each case the cost to public funds. [1228]
§ Mr. EvansThe information is not available in the format requested. Separate details of claims to social security benefits by sponsored immigrants are not collected due to the relatively small size of this group.
It is estimated that nearly a half of sponsored immigrants claim income support and that two-thirds of these may also claim housing benefit and council tax benefit.
Sponsorship undertakings are obtained by the Home Office and copies forwarded to the Benefits Agency. The numbers received in the last three years are set out in the table.
232W
Year Sponsorship undertakings received 1993 2,121 1994 1,925 1995 (to 20 November 1995) 1,847
§ Ms AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in respect of those who have claimed income support our the last seven years, in how many cases(a) this was due to the death of the sponsor (b) this was due to the sponsor being made bankrupt and (c) this was because the sponsor had become unemployed. [1229]