§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
What cost implications for the Department of the Environment were identified, under the Treasury guidelines which require any department considering policy changes to consider the resource implications for other departments, as arising from the proposals on Income Support for Asylum Seekers announced in the Social Security Uprating Statement.
§ Lord Mackay of ArdbrecknishThe Department of Social Security identified that its proposals would result in a number of asylum seekers losing entitlement to housing benefit earlier than they would have done under existing arrangements. This could result in cost implications for local authorities, who would retain their existing responsibilities for those asylum seekers who fulfilled the criteria as statutorily homeless people under the Housing Act 1985. This department has discussed, and is continuing to discuss, these cost implications with the Department of the Environment. In addition, the Secretary of State for Social Security is currently considering the report of the Social Security Advisory Committee, which carried out a public consultation exercise on these proposals, and the result of separate consultations with local authority associations.