| answer text |
<p>The functionality of the Aspen card was thoroughly tested prior to its rollout
in May 2017 and there were a number of factors which influenced the decision to move
to a payment card from Post Offices.</p><p>Primarily, the sub-contractual arrangements
were coming to an end, and the Asylum Registration Card (ARC) used for identification
and payment purposes was being upgraded. Other factors included improved convenience
and accessibility for service users, and a reduction in processing costs associated
with reduced cash handling.</p>
|
 |
