HC Deb 20 March 2000 vol 346 c431W
Mr. Syms

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government plans to spend from his Department's budget on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [115511]

Mr. Hutton

The Department plans to spend £52.386 million towards reimbursing local councils with social services responsibilities the costs they have incurred in providing accommodation and support to unaccompanied asylum seeking children in 1999–2000.

It is not possible to forecast how much the Department might spend in 2000–01 as this will depend on the numbers of unaccompanied minors looked after by local councils and on the conditions of any special grant.