§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the costs(a) to central Government and (b) to local authorities in (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000, under interim funding arrangements for asylum seekers, in respect of (1) single adults, (2) families and (3) unaccompanied children. [68578]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAsylum seekers who claim asylum at their port of entry may be entitled to income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit. Other asylum seekers may seek support from local authority social services departments. Local authorities are able to reclaim some of their expenditure by way of special grant from central government.
The information is not available in the form requested. But the information which is available was contained in the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in his reply to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 4 February 1999, Official Report, column 726.