HC Deb 08 April 1998 vol 310 c394W
Mr. Allan

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the sums paid in housing benefit to asylum seekers in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96, (e) 1996–97 and (f) 1997–98. [37971]

Mr. Keith Bradley

[holding answer 6 April 1998]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

Estimate of sums paid in Housing Benefit to Asylum seekers
£ million
Financial year Estimated housing benefit expenditure
1993–94 160
1994–95 150
1995–96 140
1996–97 120

Sources:

  1. 1. Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample of claimants also in receipt of Income Support, at the end of May for each year shown.
  2. 2. Departmental Report.

Notes:

  1. 1. The information requested is not available for May 1992 and is not yet available for May 1997.
  2. 2. Expenditure figures are estimates and have been calculated using the Housing Benefit Management System 1 per cent. sample and Departmental Reports. Estimates are based only on cases recorded on the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry as being asylum seekers. They therefore exclude other claimants in receipt of Urgent Case Payments who may in fact be asylum seekers, but are not identified as such. They also exclude any asylum seekers, in receipt of Housing Benefit who are not in receipt of Income Support, although the number of these cases is thought to be very small.
  3. 3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five million pounds.