§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are their plans for special grants to local authorities following the Court of Appeal's judgement on 21 June in respect of regulations withdrawing benefits from asylum seekers.
Earl FerrersMy right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced on 24th June that the Government intend to amend the Asylum and Immigration Bill so as to exclude from eligibility for benefit certain asylum seekers and certain other persons from abroad. Other provisions in that Bill would make similar changes to eligibility for assistance under the homelessness legislation at about the same time as the benefit rules are changed. Any remaining costs to local housing authorities should be minimal.
Because housing benefit payments are now available to persons housed under the homelessness legislation since 5th February, the Government have decided that the proposed "Persons from Abroad Housing Benefit Special Grant" to local housing authorities is no longer required.
There is likely to be some continuing burden on social services departments in connection with supporting children in need and their families, and the Government's commitment to assist social services authorities with those costs, given earlier this year, remains unchanged. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health intends to lay a revised Special Grant Report proposing a special grant to social services authorities. The terms of this grant are likely to be similar to the "Persons from Abroad Children's Grant" in the Special Grant Report (No. 19) which was laid before Parliament on 6th June. The Special Grant Report (No. 19) has been withdrawn.