§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will reconsider their proposal that 50 pence per day is adequate support for all children aged between 3 and 18 seeking asylum in the United Kingdom. [HL1925]
§ The Minister of State. Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)No. We have proposed that children of asylum seekers aged 3 to 16 should receive non-accommodation support to the value of £17.75 per week and that children aged 16 to 18 should receive support to the value of £21.20 per week. Of these amounts, £3.50 per week will be paid in cash and we are satisfied that, by making use of the voucher element as flexible as possible, this will be sufficient to allow children to obtain those relatively few essential living needs which cannot be obtained with vouchers.
The asylum seeker support system is intended to provide basic safety net support for a relatively short period while an asylum application is being considered.