Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label attachment file name title
tabling member	label

Search

1657639

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what arrangements they will put in place to ensure Aspen card holding asylum seekers can exchange a payment from their cards for any goods they require.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL9832
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2023 answer text <p>Arrangements are already in place to ensure destitute asylum seekers can buy goods that they require to meet their essential living needs. Asylum seekers who are assessed as destitute under Section 95 are provided with a weekly allowance which is loaded on to a debit card (ASPEN card). ASPEN cards can be used to pay for retail transactions at most shops displaying the Mastercard logo, up to the value of the available balance. They can also be used to check available balances at cash machines, to withdraw cash from cash machines and to get cash back when purchasing items at Mastercard participating shops. ASPEN cards cannot be used to make contactless, telephone or internet payments and the card cannot be used overseas.</p><p>Failed Asylum Seekers who are assessed as destitute under Section 4 will not be able use their card to withdraw cash from a machine or get cashback from shops.</p><p>As part of normal service, anyone experiencing issues in relation to their ASPEN payment card can report them to our Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) provider, Migrant Help, 24 hours a day on the freephone number.</p> answering member printed Lord Murray of Blidworth question first answered 18/09/2023 15:43:09 answering member 4950 label Biography information for Lord Murray of Blidworth
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

1580963

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what was the value of support given to asylum seekers each year through (1) the ASPEN card, and (2) its predecessors, over the past 20 years.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL5099
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2023 answer text <p>The value of financial support provided to asylum seekers is tabled as an annual amendment to the Asylum support Regulation 2000. Providing the complete information requested would exceed the word limit for responses to written parliamentary questions. However, the value of the support has been set in the Statutory Instruments which are publicly available below; links to them are provided, where available.</p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2003</p><p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/241/made#:~:text=These%20Regulations%2C%20which%20come%20into%20force%20on%203rd,the%20form%20of%20vouchers%20redeemable%20for%20cash.%20%281%29" target="_blank">The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (legislation.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2004</p><p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/763/contents/made" target="_blank">The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (legislation.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2005</p><p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/11/made" target="_blank">The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (legislation.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2006</p><p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/733/contents/made" target="_blank">The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (legislation.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2007</p><p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/863/contents/made" target="_blank">The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (legislation.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2008</p><p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/760/made" target="_blank">The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (legislation.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2009</p><p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/1388/contents/made#:~:text=The%20Asylum%20Support%20%28Amendment%29%20%28No.%202%29%20Regulations%202009,in%20respect%20of%20a%20person%E2%80%99s%20essential%20living%20needs." target="_blank">The Asylum Support (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2009 (legislation.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2010</p><p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/784/made#:~:text=The%20Asylum%20Support%20%28Amendment%29%20Regulations%202010%20Regulation%202,in%20respect%20of%20a%20person%E2%80%99s%20essential%20living%20needs." target="_blank">The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (legislation.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2011</p><p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/907/made" target="_blank">The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (legislation.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2012</p><p>Not available.</p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2013</p><p>Not available.</p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2014</p><p>Not available.</p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2015</p><p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1501/made" target="_blank">The Asylum Support (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2015 (legislation.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2016</p><p>Not available.</p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2017</p><p>Not available</p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2018</p><p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/30/made#:~:text=These%20Regulations%20amend%20regulation%2010%20%282%29%20of%20the,asylum%20support%20is%20increased%20from%20%C2%A336.95%20to%20%C2%A337.75." target="_blank">The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2019</p><p>Not available.</p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2020</p><p>Not available.</p><p>The Asylum Support Regulations 2021</p><p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/99/made" target="_blank">The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (legislation.gov.uk)</a></p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Murray of Blidworth question first answered 09/02/2023 13:52:37 answering member 4950 label Biography information for Lord Murray of Blidworth
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

1551897

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 24 October (HL2407), what estimate they have made of the number of people with British children who have applied for a change to their asylum status from a status with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) over the last five years.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Durham
	uin	HL4280
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/01/2023 answer text <p>The requested information is not held as the NRPF policy for Group 2 refugees is not currently operational. From 28 June 2022, individuals with refugee permission to stay (Group 1 refugees) or temporary permission to stay (Group 2 refugees) currently have full access to the labour market as well as recourse to public funds. However, the conditions attached to permission to stay on a protection route may change at a later point.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Murray of Blidworth question first answered 03/01/2023 16:17:20 answering member 4950 label Biography information for Lord Murray of Blidworth
	tabling member	4312 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Durham

1520156

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of people with British children who have applied for a change to their asylum status from a status with no recourse to public funds.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Durham
	uin	HL2407
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>Individuals granted refugee permission to stay (Group 1 refugees) or temporary permission to stay (Group 2 refugees) currently have full access to the labour market, as well as recourse to public funds.</p><p>Section 12 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 permits differentiation on the basis of access to public funds. All our policies are kept under review and may be subject to change in the future.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom grouped question UIN HL2408 question first answered 24/10/2022 11:44:49 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4312 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Durham

1520157

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether people granted temporary protection under the Permission to stay on a protection route for asylum claims lodged on or after 28 June 2022 guidance, published on 28 June, will permanently avoid a change to their conditions of no recourse to public funds.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Durham
	uin	HL2408
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>Individuals granted refugee permission to stay (Group 1 refugees) or temporary permission to stay (Group 2 refugees) currently have full access to the labour market, as well as recourse to public funds.</p><p>Section 12 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 permits differentiation on the basis of access to public funds. All our policies are kept under review and may be subject to change in the future.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom grouped question UIN HL2407 question first answered 24/10/2022 11:44:49 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4312 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Durham

1338327

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made with resolving issues with the Aspen Card.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL1263
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2021 answer text <p>Fully functioning and tested Aspen cards have been distributed to all service users. The vast majority have activated it and have been using it successfully since the service went live on Monday 24th May 2021.</p><p>Where replacement cards have been requested, they are being actioned swiftly and are being dispatched to service users accordingly.</p><p>Those experiencing issues with their Aspen card were, and still are, entitled to Emergency Cash Payments (ECPs) if in need. Due to this, all support-entitled asylum seekers were able to receive their benefits, either through an Aspen card or cash payments.</p><p>The vast majority of service users have now received and activated their new Aspen card since the service went live on Monday 24th May 2021. These cards are working and being used successfully to make purchases or withdraw funds (dependent on asylum seeker support type).</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford grouped question UIN HL1264 question first answered 05/07/2021 16:24:16 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

1338328

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many asylum seekers were unable to receive their benefits due to recent issues with the Aspen Card.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL1264
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2021 answer text <p>Fully functioning and tested Aspen cards have been distributed to all service users. The vast majority have activated it and have been using it successfully since the service went live on Monday 24th May 2021.</p><p>Where replacement cards have been requested, they are being actioned swiftly and are being dispatched to service users accordingly.</p><p>Those experiencing issues with their Aspen card were, and still are, entitled to Emergency Cash Payments (ECPs) if in need. Due to this, all support-entitled asylum seekers were able to receive their benefits, either through an Aspen card or cash payments.</p><p>The vast majority of service users have now received and activated their new Aspen card since the service went live on Monday 24th May 2021. These cards are working and being used successfully to make purchases or withdraw funds (dependent on asylum seeker support type).</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford grouped question UIN HL1263 question first answered 05/07/2021 16:24:16 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

1338329

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many asylum seekers are currently dependent on support from the UK Government.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL1265
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2021 answer text <p>The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of asylum seekers supported by the UK Government.</p><p>These statistics are published on a quarterly basis, with the latest information published 27 May 2021 and can be found at: (please see attached table)</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 05/07/2021 16:56:36 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford attachment 1 file name asylum-applications-datasets-mar-2021 (1).xlsx title Asylum and Resettlement Data Sets
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

1331022

	registered interest
	date	08/06/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of delays in the issuing of the Aspen payment cards to asylum seekers.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Southwark
	uin	HL893
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2021 answer text <p>The PrePaid Financial Services (PFS) solution is a well-established Mastercard pre-paid card used by organisations across the UK as well as abroad and has undergone over 5 months of rigorous testing to integrate with Home Office systems.</p><p>Service users were notified of the transition in advance and a significant majority of service users have received their Aspen card and successfully activated. The service is functioning as expected for those who have activated their card. The cards are fully working, withdrawals and purchases are being made and the automated IVR activation line is operating well.</p><p>Transitions of this nature are complex, and plans to mitigate anticipated issues were, and remain, in place. Cash payments were made available in emergencies. We will continue to work with the remainder of service users to activate their cards and ensure they are supported throughout.</p><p><br> Our main focus is to ensure all remaining service users have an activated card so the new service can be accessed and support payments received.</p><p>As part of our management of service contracts continuous improvement assessments will be factored in throughout the contract term and implemented accordingly.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 22/06/2021 16:16:12 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	4345 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Southwark

1330247

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was the weekly benefit payment received by asylum seekers in each of the last 10 years.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL802
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2021 answer text <p>Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can obtain support from the Home Office. The support package usually consists of free, furnished accommodation (with utility bills and council tax paid) and a weekly cash allowance to meet other essential living needs.</p><p>The standard weekly cash allowance for a single adult asylum seeker over the past 10 years is set out in the table below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Weekly Rate</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>From 18 April 2011</p></td><td><p>£36.62</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>From 6 April 2015</p></td><td><p>£36.95</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>From 6 February 2018</p></td><td><p>£37.75</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>From 15 June 2020</p></td><td><p>£39.60</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>From 22 February 2021</p></td><td><p>£39.63</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 21/06/2021 15:59:32 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno