§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his Department spent on social security benefits for asylum seekers in the financial year 1999–2000; what his estimate is of the amount paid in social security benefits to asylum seekers in 2000–01 to date; what his estimate is of the likely total of such expenditure for the entire financial year 2000–01; if he will show for each period(a) the total estimated expenditure, (b) expenditure on Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance, (c) expenditure on Housing Benefit and(d) expenditure on Council Tax Benefit; and if he will make a statement. [139373]
860W
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 20 November 2000]: Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
Estimated expenditure for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based), combined £ million 1999–2000 136 2000–01 157 1To date Notes:
1. Expenditure for 2000–01 to date covers the period April to September 2000 and does not include Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based). Jobseeker's Allowance expenditure on Asylum Seekers is, however, negligible.
2. Estimates are based on the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries from May 1999 to August 2000, and the Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries from May 1999 to February 2000.
3. The amounts shown reflect the revised figures for Asylum Seekers receiving Income Support published in table 7.1 of the August 2000 Quarterly Statistical Enquiry. Figures previously published and used as the basis for previous calculations of expenditure were incorrect due to a tabling error.
4. Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB) expenditure on Asylum Seekers in 1999–2000 cannot be estimated until the May 2000 1 per cent. sample of HB and CTB claims has been published (spring 2001).
5. Responsibility for the costs of asylum seeker support passed to the Home Office in April 1999 following the Comprehensive Spending Review. The Department is reimbursed by the Home Office for the costs of social security benefits paid to asylum seekers.