HL Deb 19 February 2001 vol 622 cc69-71WA
Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list by number and title the National Asylum Support Service Policy Bulletins which are currently applicable. [HL690]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

A list of the current National Asylum Support Service (NASS) Policy Bulletins is shown by number and title in the table below.

NASS Policy Bulletins Subject
Policy Bulletin 1 Supercal
Policy Bulletin 2 Sharing
Policy Bulletin 3 Supercal
Policy Bulletin 4 Threshold Table
Policy Bulletin 5 Backdating Vouchers
Policy Bulletin 6 Asylum Process Overview
Policy Bulletin 7 Failure to travel [Superseded—Deleted]
Policy Bulletin 8 Initial Consideration in Allocation
Policy Bulletin 9 Asylum Support Adjudications
Policy Bulletin 10 Social Security Benefits, Homelessness assistance and Local Authority Support
Policy Bulletin 11 Mixed Households
Policy Bulletin 12 Refusals
Policy Bulletin 13 Judicial Review [Superseded Deleted]
Policy Bulletin 14 Failure to travel [Superseded—Deleted]
Policy Bulletin 15 NASS Roll-out
Policy Bulletin 16 Kent Disbenefited Cases
Policy Bulletin 17 Failure to Travel
Policy Bulletin 18 Racial Harassment
Policy Bulletin 19 Medical Foundation
Policy Bulletin 20 Voucher breakdown
Policy Bulletin 21 Medical Foundation (Emergency Accommodation)
Policy Bulletin 22 Discontinuation
Policy Bulletin 23 Appeals Process
Policy Bulletin 24 Subs only
Policy Bulletin 25 Failure to travel (addendum)
Policy Bulletin 26 Oakington
Policy Bulletin 27 Disbenefited cases
Policy Bulletin 28 Travel
Policy Bulletin 29 Transition at Age 18 (Amended 9/2/01)
Policy Bulletin 30 Human Rights 1998
Policy Bulletin 31 Dispersal Guidelines (Amended 9/2/01)
Policy Bulletin 32 Cancelling Accommodation
Policy Bulletin 33 Age Disputes
Policy Bulletin 34 Additional Single Payments
Policy Bulletin 35 Acid record not found
Policy Bulletin 36 Emergency Accommodation Monitoring
Policy Bulletin 37 Maternity Payment
Policy Bulletin 38 Grace Periods
Policy Bulletin 39 Support rate change
Policy Bulletin 40 Supercal updated
Policy Bulletin 41 Dealing with representations in respect of an asylum claim
Policy Bulletin 42 Initial Accommodation [Withdrawn]
Policy Bulletin 43 HC2 Certificates
Policy Bulletin 44 Referring Files to other Sections
Policy Bulletin 45 Initial Accommodation
Policy Bulletin 46 Northern Ireland
Policy Bulletin 47 Judicial Review

Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many asylum seekers have died while being supported by the National Asylum Support Service; and what were the causes of death. [HL691]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

The information requested is not available.

Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether an investigation is taking place into the management, structure, efficiency or performance of the National Asylum Support Service; and, if so, who is undertaking it; what are its terms of reference; who has commissioned it; and to whom and when is a report to be delivered. [HL689]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

The National Asylum Support Service has been working with a consultant from INEX Consulting commissioned through the S-CAT framework. The terms of reference were to:

Determine where workflow and document management techniques could bring benefits. Possibly propose changes to the current processes (though s/he should be aware of restrictions which legal and audit requirements, such as the separation of duties, place upon the possible alternatives).

A draft report was received on 15th February and is under consideration.

An interim evaluation of the National Asylum Support Service has been undertaken by external consultants. Following competitive tender, Deloitte Touche were commissioned by the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate to carry out an interim evaluation of NASS. Deloitte Touche terms of reference were to:

  • monitor and report on the efficiency and effectiveness with which the new asylum support arrangements are being implemented and operated;
  • make recommendations for improvement where necessary.
The report was delivered to NASS management in October 2000.