HC Deb 20 October 1995 vol 264 cc395-6W
Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many asylum seekers who have appealed against a refusal of asylum are in receipt of income support. [37163]

Mr. Roger Evans

The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the annual cost of social security and housing benefits paid to asylum seekers; and how many have been in receipt of those benefits in each of the last three years. [37417]

Mr. Evans

The latest estimate of the annual amount of income support and housing benefit paid to asylum seekers is £200 million. Numbers of asylum seekers receiving income support are shown in the table:

Income support Number of cases
May 19931 37,000
May 19941 42,000

Note:

1 Includes an estimated 1–2 thousand cases of former asylum seekers who are now entitled to Income Support under the normal rules.

Source

Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiries May 1993 and May 1994.

Claims from asylum seekers were not identified separately before May 1993.

Information about other benefits paid to asylum seekers and the numbers receiving them is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.