HC Deb 05 December 1997 vol 302 cc381-2W
Mr. McCabe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security is she will assess the advantages of restoring the entitlement to state benefits to asylum seekers. [17526]

Mr. Keith Bradley

An interdepartmental review led by the Home Office is currently considering all aspects of arrangements for asylum seekers, including the provision of accommodation and support throughout the entire asylum process. The aim is to identify more effective

Mr. Keith Bradley

Our objective is to improve living standards for the many, not just the few, and we aim to offer educational and employment opportunities for all.

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables. These show the average net equivalised household incomes and changes over time for individuals by family type. The income distribution is disaggregated into deciles separately for each family type. Income is as defined and measured in the Department's Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series, based on household income adjusted for household size; HBAI data are not available for years before 1979 or for every year since then.

arrangements for the handling of claims and the provision of support, consistent with the Government's commitment to ensure swift and fair decisions on asylum cases.