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<p>We have been reviewing the level of the cash allowances provided to asylum seekers
who would otherwise be destitute, as we do each year to ensure that they remain capable
of meeting their essential living needs.</p><p> </p><p>As a result of this work, the
standard allowance has been raised to £39.60 per week from £37.75 per week, an increase
of around 5%. The increase is significantly higher than the current general rate of
inflation, which Office of National Statistics data shows was only 0.8% in the 12
months period to April 2020. Food inflation over the same period was only 1.4% and
the data actually shows that, despite Covid-19, food prices fell between March to
April 2020. In addition to asylum support payments, asylum seekers are provided with
free accommodation, utilities are paid for, council tax is paid for, they have free
access to the NHS and their children have free access to education.</p><p> </p>
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