§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 31 October 2001,Official Report, column 828W, on asylum seekers, how many local authorities claimed grant for (a) under 16-year-olds, and (b) 16 and 17-year-olds in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, and (iv) 2000. [17822]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 27 January 2002]: The information requested is in the table. Data for 2000–01 on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children have been supplied by the Home Office which now administers the grant.
LAs claiming UASC grant For under-16s only For over-16s only For both age groups 1996–97 41 — — — 1997–98 51 — — — 1998–99 76 2 22 52 1999–2000 106 4 23 79 2000–01 108 — 14 94 1 In 1996–97 and 1997–98 no distinction was made between age groups in terms of amounts claimable, so no separate figures are available.