§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to review the eligibility criteria for former child migrants as to their entitlement to support for(a) air fares and (b) living allowance; [95155]
(2) what plans he has to allow former child migrants whose nearest living relatives are cousins to qualify for support to return to the United Kingdom. [95156]
752W
§ Mr. HuttonThe eligibility criteria for access to the Support Fund are kept under regular review. Demand is currently running at a level which suggests that the Fund will be fully subscribed with the current criteria, which are designed to give priority to reuniting close family members.
Extending the scheme to others (including those wishing to meet cousins) would substantially enlarge its scope and would mean that there might be insufficient funding available to help this priority group. We do not therefore at present have any plans to amend the criteria.
Demand on the Fund will however continue to be closely monitored and should it appear that the Fund will not be fully subscribed, we will consider whether revised criteria might be appropriate.