§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total value was of the asylum support vouchers issued in the first six months of 2000–01; and what the total cost was to public funds of issuing them. [142786]
612W
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 14 December 2000]: The total value of asylum support vouchers issued in the first six months of 2000–01 financial year was £5.1 million.
Total staffing and related administrative costs of the National Asylum Support Service, including the costs of processing application forms, allocating accommodation and administering the voucher schemes—but excluding the face value of the vouchers, and the costs of providing accommodation and travel—over this period were £6.6 million. This includes payments made under the voucher contract. However, vouchers are printed and distributed by third party providers under contract to the Home Office and the costs of this service are commercially confidential.