§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual budget was of the National Asylum Support Service in the last financial year; and how much of this was(a) allocated to accommodation and support and (b) paid to (i) local authorities and (ii) private accommodation providers. [159735]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeEstimated expenditure on asylum accommodation and support, including unaccompanied asylum seeking minors in 2000–01 was £751 million (estimated final outturn). This was made up of
Grant payment to local authorities for adult families and unaccompanied asylum seeking minors—£575 millionSupport payments by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS)—£115 millionPayments to the Department of Social Security for supporting asylum seekers on benefit—£56 millionPayments to the Scottish Executive for support to adults and families who applied before April 2000—£5 million.The support payments by NASS include a total of £54 million paid directly to accommodation providers under contract for the provision of accommodation and related services to dispersed asylum seekers. £46 million of this was paid to private sector providers and £8 million to local authority regional consortiums.
The administration budget for NASS was £16 million. In addition £22 million was allocated for payments to the voluntary sector for work carried out to support the new dispersal arrangements and for other work relating to asylum seekers and refugees.
Note:
All figures rounded to nearest £ million.