§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate the cost of converting the Centrex Site at High Ercall, Shropshire to a centre for housing asylum seekers; [45165]
(2) what discussions he has had with (a) Angel Development Corporation and (b) other interested parties on the suitability of the Centrex site at High Ercall, Shropshire, for housing asylum seekers since 27 November 2001. [45164]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 25 March 2002]: The Angel Group is under contract to the National. Asylum Support Service to provide accommodation for asylum seekers. I can confirm that no discussions have taken place with the Group or other interested parties into the possibility of using the Centrex site at High Ercall as a centre for housing asylum seekers. Since no discussions have taken place I am unable to estimate the cost of converting the site.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent changes have been made to the asylum support system. [49015]
§ Angela EagleAmendments to the Asylum Support Regulations 2000 came into effect on 8 April 2002. From that date levels of support provided to asylum seekers570W and their dependants under Section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 have been increased. Also from 8 April all payments will be paid in cash.
In addition, the Regulations have been amended to extend the prescribed period for discontinuing the support of asylum seekers whose claims have been fully determined. From 8 April when the Secretary of State notifies the claimant that he accepts the asylum claim, or notifies the claimant that the asylum claim is rejected but at the same time gives him limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or where an appeal by the claimant against the Secretary of State's decision has been disposed of (within the meaning of Section 94(4) of the Act by being allowed, the period is increased from 14 days to 28 days. In any other case, the period is increased from 14 days to 21 days.
Amendments to the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999 have also been made. These extend the duration of the Regulations until 5 April 2004; amend the prescribed period for asylum seekers supported by local authorities in the same way as for those supported under Section 95 of the 1999 Act and remove the restrictions on the payment of subsistence support in cash.
The new rates of support for the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) supported asylum seekers are shown in the table:
Levels of cash subsistence support for NASS supported asylum seekers and any dependants from 8 April 2002 Rates Qualifying couple £59.26 Lone parent aged Qualifying couple 18 or over £37.77 Single person aged 25 or over £37.77 Single person aged at least 18 but under 25 £29.89 Person aged at least 16 but under 18 (except a member of a qualifying couple) £32.50 Person aged under 16 £33.50