§ Mr. TimmsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress the Benefits Agency in(a) Newham and (b) the United Kingdom has made in (i) identifying, (ii) contacting and (iii) recompensing asylum seekers affected by the Court of Appeal decision of 21 June. [35974]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
Immediately following the Court of Appeal ruling, Benefits Agency offices were advised to accept claims from those who gained entitlement to benefit for the period from 5 February. Given that the Court of Appeal ruling has received widespread media coverage, and this is an area in which advocacy and support groups are very active, it is likely that any action geared towards identifying affected cases would be largely redundant. Therefore, the Government do not believe it is necessary to take any special steps to identify those who may have gained entitlement following the court ruling.
Asylum seekers who would have been entitled during the period 5 February to 21 June will be aware that benefit can be obtained by making claim in respect of that period or seeking a review of a decision to disallow benefit. Arrears of benefit will be payable where appropriate in respect of claims and requests for review covering the period 5 February to 21 June.