§ 36. Martin LintonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to reform the system of financial support for asylum seekers. [29885]
§ Angela EagleWe intend to introduce a new system by autumn 2002 which will replace vouchers. We are examining the best method of using the new Application Registration Card to access appropriate cash payments. Our aim is a scheme which will be more efficient and less socially divisive.
§ Mr. ColemanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time has been over the last six months for individuals granted refugee status to have their grant confirmed in writing. [31946]
§ Angela EagleI regret that the information requested is not readily available, and could be obtained only by examination of individual case records and is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.
§ Ms BuckTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with children's organisations on how the proposals in the forthcoming asylum White Paper will affect asylum-seeking children and young people. [31821]
§ Angela EagleI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Julie Morgan) on 29 January 2002,Official Report, column 302W.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees and asylum seekers will be kept in Winchester prison as of 31 January. [33060]
§ Angela EagleThe temporary use of a number of local prisons to provide additional spaces for immigration detainees ended on 12 January. This includes Her Majesty's prison Winchester.
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to implement the increase in the cash allowance for asylum seekers supported by NASS; [30827]
(2) what plans he has for the general uprating of support for asylum seekers in line with changes in income support to be introduced in April 2002. [30828]
§ Angela EagleWe will introduce these changes to the voucher scheme operated by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) on 8 April 2002. The cash element of subsistence support will be uprated from £10 to £14 and the levels of support will be increased so that the 70 per cent. parity with income support rates for adults and 100 per cent. parity for children are restored. The new rates of support are shown in the table (applicable only to asylum seekers supported by NASS).
667W
Revised levels of voucher support for NASS supported asylum seekers and any dependants from 8 April 2002 £ Current levels of support since 3 April 2000 Levels of support from 8 April 2002 Qualifying couple 57.37 59.26 Lone parent aged 18 or over 36.54 37.77 Single person aged 25 or over 36.54 37.77 Single person aged at least 18 but under 25 28.95 29.89 Person aged at least 16 but under 18 (except a member of a qualifying couple) 31.75 32.50 Asylum seekers in receipt of the full support package (accommodation and subsistence) receive fully furnished accommodation including cooking utensils. Council tax and utilities are paid for centrally.