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1674408

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has taken recent steps to provide financial support to asylum seekers housed in hotels for their voluntary return.
	tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
	tabling member printed	Scott Benton
	uin	4757
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office will always look to support those who wish to depart the United Kingdom voluntarily, and the extent of that support is based on a case-by-case assessment of an individual’s needs. General eligibility criteria can be found online at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/return-home-voluntarily/who" target="_blank">Get help to return home if you’re a migrant in the UK: Who can get help - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p>The Home Office publishes statistics on all types of removals from the UK, which include voluntary departures. The latest statistics are available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release" target="_blank">Immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>. Published datasets for voluntary returns are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/returns-and-detention-datasets" target="_blank">Returns and detention datasets - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p>The cost of a voluntary return depends on the individual circumstances of the case, and therefore we are not able to provide a definitive figure.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 4758 4759 question first answered 08/12/2023 13:07:52 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4793 label Biography information for Scott Benton

1673568

	registered interest
	date	28/11/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse was for (a) financial support and (b) accommodation for people (i) seeking asylum and (ii) arriving through other humanitarian routes in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.
	tabling member constituency	Harborough
	tabling member printed	Neil O'Brien
	uin	4251
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide accommodation and other support to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while their application for asylum is being considered. Costs are subject to change depending on numbers being accommodated within the asylum system. The Home Office is currently spending around £8.3m per day on hotel accommodation. Total expenditure on asylum and humanitarian routes is published in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, available at HO annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</p><p>The Home Office does not publish a breakdown which disaggregates the cost of financial support and accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees by local authority.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 04/12/2023 17:26:18 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4679 label Biography information for Neil O'Brien

1673214

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of starting the 28 day notice period for the end of asylum support 10 days after the issue of a Biometric Residence Permit.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	3928
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>Following the service of an asylum decision, an individual continues to be an asylum seeker for the purpose of asylum support until the end of the relevant prescribed period, also known as the ‘grace period’ or ‘move on period’. This period is 28 calendar days from when an individual is notified of a decision to accept their asylum claim and grant them leave. There are no current plans to extend this period (of 28 days).</p><p> </p><p>Individuals should make plans to move on from asylum support as soon as they are served their asylum decision. We offer support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation in doing this. This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 04/12/2023 16:53:46 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1672817

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a specific timeframe for Section 95 applications to be completed.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	3669
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office endeavours to complete applications as fast as possible.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 04/12/2023 17:22:50 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1672747

	registered interest
	date	23/11/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2023 to Question 1700 on Asylum: Finance, what his Department considers to be a timely manner.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	3544
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2023 answer text <p>Decision times will vary by case, as each application is different; we aim to reach a decision as swiftly as possible.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 30/11/2023 16:57:30 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1669623

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has a target for the time taken to make decisions on section 95 asylum support applications.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	1700
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2023 answer text <p>Each case will be different so it is difficult to say how long the Home Office will need to decide an individual application for section 95 support, though we do endeavour to complete applications in a timely manner. Once we receive an asylum seeker’s fully completed application from Migrant Help, we prioritise those who are homeless and those who are in initial accommodation.</p><p>If an asylum seeker requires an update on their application’s progress, they are encouraged to contact Migrant Help who can request an update from the Home Office. This can be done via their webchat, the ‘raise an issue’ link on their website or by calling their freephone helpline on 0808 8010 503.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 21/11/2023 12:16:28 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1663946

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the move-on period for people who have received their asylum decisions to at least 56 days.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	201799
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>We do not publish the information you have requested.</p><p>We work closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) in ensuring individuals can move on from asylum support as smoothly as possible. With DLUHC, we are working to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures. Our accommodation providers are also directly working with local authorities to notify them when an individual is due to have their asylum support ended.</p><p>Individuals should make plans to move on from asylum support as quickly as possible. We offer move onsupport through Migrant Help or their partner organisation in doing this. This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.</p><p>The asylum accommodation estate is under huge strain and increasing the ‘move on’ period would exacerbate these pressures. There are no current plans to extend the prescribed period (of 28 days) for how long individuals remain on asylum support once they have received a grant of asylum.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick grouped question UIN 201795 201797 201798 question first answered 23/10/2023 13:49:42 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1663963

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's news story of 12 September 2023 entitled New Illegal Migration Act measures and age dispute assessment tests, whether the consultations with local authorities and organisations within the sector to look at the UK’s capacity to accommodate and support those arriving through safe and legal routes will seek views on proposed additional safe routes..
	tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
	tabling member printed	Tim Farron
	uin	201816
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>With the passing of the Illegal Migration Act, on 20 July 2023, the government has committed to introducing a cap on the number of people brought to the UK through safe and legal routes each year.</p><p>The cap will be determined through consultation with local authorities to understand the UK’s capacity to accommodate and support individuals arriving through safe and legal routes.</p><p>The consultation seeks to determine a realistic picture of the capacity that the UK has, to enable the operation of safe and legal routes for protection and ensure these routes form part of a well-managed and sustainable migration system.</p><p>As the Prime Minister has stated, as we get a grip on illegal migration, we will be able to bring forward more safe and legal routes.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 23/10/2023 13:50:44 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

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

1654065

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish the next review of the asylum-support allowance.
	tabling member constituency	Salford and Eccles
	tabling member printed	Rebecca Long Bailey
	uin	194891
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office annually reviews the level of the asylum support rate to assess the correct level of financial support that should be provided to meet essential living needs.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 24/07/2023 11:59:06 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4396 label Biography information for Rebecca Long Bailey

1649766

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of eligibility criteria for legal claims relating to section 95 claims on asylum seekers.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	192179
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2023 answer text <p>Legal aid has been and will continue to be available for asylum cases, for victims of domestic abuse and modern slavery, for separated migrant children and for immigration cases where someone is challenging a detention decision.</p><p>Where asylum support is granted, that individual will remain in receipt of asylum support until a decision is taken to discontinue the support. This could be where the person is no longer destitute, their asylum claim has been determined or where they no longer meet the conditions of support. There is no time limit or renewal period.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick grouped question UIN 192180 192181 question first answered 11/07/2023 16:09:03 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1649767

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of automatic renewal of Section 95 asylum support applications on six monthly basis while an individual's asylum claim is being determined.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	192180
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2023 answer text <p>Legal aid has been and will continue to be available for asylum cases, for victims of domestic abuse and modern slavery, for separated migrant children and for immigration cases where someone is challenging a detention decision.</p><p>Where asylum support is granted, that individual will remain in receipt of asylum support until a decision is taken to discontinue the support. This could be where the person is no longer destitute, their asylum claim has been determined or where they no longer meet the conditions of support. There is no time limit or renewal period.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick grouped question UIN 192179 192181 question first answered 11/07/2023 16:09:03 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1649768

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she has make an assessment of the potential merits of automatic renewal of Section 95 asylum support applications in the context of the volume of pending asylum claims.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	192181
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2023 answer text <p>Legal aid has been and will continue to be available for asylum cases, for victims of domestic abuse and modern slavery, for separated migrant children and for immigration cases where someone is challenging a detention decision.</p><p>Where asylum support is granted, that individual will remain in receipt of asylum support until a decision is taken to discontinue the support. This could be where the person is no longer destitute, their asylum claim has been determined or where they no longer meet the conditions of support. There is no time limit or renewal period.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick grouped question UIN 192179 192180 question first answered 11/07/2023 16:09:03 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1628053

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how her department calculates the weekly allowance received by asylum seekers on aspen cards.
	tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
	tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
	uin	185182
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2023 answer text <p>The level of the allowance given to those supported under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (“the 1999 Act”) is generally reviewed each year to ensure it meets an asylum seeker’s essential living needs. Reports on the reviews are published here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-cash-allowance-paid-to-asylum-seekers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-cash-allowance-paid-to-asylum-seekers</a>.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 22/05/2023 14:18:28 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	150 label Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman

1610411

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 96 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2022-23: Supplementary Estimates, published on 21 February 2023, how the additional £1,614,856,000 for asylum support costs was spent.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon Central
	tabling member printed	Sarah Jones
	uin	180544
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office does not routinely publish data breaking down the additional expenditure spent on asylum support or illegal migration.</p><p>Home Office expenditure is detailed in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, with the most recent Annual Report and Accounts for 2021 to 2022 published on 14 July 2022 and available at <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fhome-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2021-to-2022&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLucy.Hewins%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C9f883f2141a0432a946d08db418fa99e%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638175857495380565%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=tGOADADQc3DqCwsSTsryrOvdnwxuiw76rfEPhC7sNtU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2021-to-2022</a>.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick grouped question UIN 180547 180548 180549 question first answered 24/04/2023 16:54:45 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4631 label Biography information for Sarah Jones

1581557

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2023
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to announce the outcome of the review into asylum support rates.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	134037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office has a legal obligation to provide support to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. The support package provided 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>From 21 December 2022 the government increased the main rate of asylum support that is provided under sections 4 and 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to £45 per week on an interim basis whilst we complete the current annual review of the asylum support allowance.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 03/02/2023 17:15:41 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

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

1547647

	registered interest
	date	02/12/2022
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been in receipt of asylum support for more than one year in each of the last five calendar years.
	tabling member constituency	Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford
	tabling member printed	Yvette Cooper
	uin	101694
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>The Home Office publishes data on asylum seekers in receipt of support in the ‘<a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fimmigration-statistics-quarterly-release&amp;data=04%7C01%7CASCsecretariat%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Cbbca91633d114e37808708d88c6e5d7d%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637413752926879168%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=yPtOfCFaR8mEFi%2BLnm2ErSaw%2BC%2BRiH7MHIxed9q5Afc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release</a>’. The latest publication (November 2022) can be found here <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-and-protection-data-q3-2022" target="_blank">Immigration and protection data: Q3 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a> under the document <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F1106097%2Fasylum-seekers-receipt-support-datasets-jun-2022-second-edition.xlsx&amp;data=05%7C01%7CRASI-BriefingCorrespondence%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C1a762e3f48824315a43108dabcffa61d%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638030103432447779%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=IkF2kUZrblrMRLfq%2FwNg%2FjHkui9Y3KmbYaLYgE561Hw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Asylum seekers in receipt of support (opens in a new tab)</a> of the workbooks. Data are published on a quarterly basis. The latest information was published 24 November 2022.</p><p>The Home Office does not publish a breakdown of statistics which disaggregates the number of asylum seekers accommodated in specific types of accommodation, the duration of their receipt of support or the number at specific stages of the asylum process. These figures are not available in a reportable format and to provide the information could only be done at disproportionate cost.</p><p>Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, as well as quality and availability of data.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick grouped question UIN 101695 question first answered 08/12/2022 16:54:12 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	420 label Biography information for Yvette Cooper

1547648

	registered interest
	date	02/12/2022
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are projected to be in receipt of asylum support for more than one year in financial years (a) 2022-23, (b) 2023-24, and (c) 2024-25.
	tabling member constituency	Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford
	tabling member printed	Yvette Cooper
	uin	101695
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>The Home Office publishes data on asylum seekers in receipt of support in the ‘<a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fimmigration-statistics-quarterly-release&amp;data=04%7C01%7CASCsecretariat%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Cbbca91633d114e37808708d88c6e5d7d%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637413752926879168%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=yPtOfCFaR8mEFi%2BLnm2ErSaw%2BC%2BRiH7MHIxed9q5Afc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release</a>’. The latest publication (November 2022) can be found here <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-and-protection-data-q3-2022" target="_blank">Immigration and protection data: Q3 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a> under the document <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F1106097%2Fasylum-seekers-receipt-support-datasets-jun-2022-second-edition.xlsx&amp;data=05%7C01%7CRASI-BriefingCorrespondence%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C1a762e3f48824315a43108dabcffa61d%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638030103432447779%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=IkF2kUZrblrMRLfq%2FwNg%2FjHkui9Y3KmbYaLYgE561Hw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Asylum seekers in receipt of support (opens in a new tab)</a> of the workbooks. Data are published on a quarterly basis. The latest information was published 24 November 2022.</p><p>The Home Office does not publish a breakdown of statistics which disaggregates the number of asylum seekers accommodated in specific types of accommodation, the duration of their receipt of support or the number at specific stages of the asylum process. These figures are not available in a reportable format and to provide the information could only be done at disproportionate cost.</p><p>Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, as well as quality and availability of data.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick grouped question UIN 101694 question first answered 08/12/2022 16:54:12 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	420 label Biography information for Yvette Cooper

1547649

	registered interest
	date	02/12/2022
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding has been allocated by (a) her Department and (b) FCDO in departmental budgets for financial year 2022-23 to cover support costs for people in receipt of asylum support.
	tabling member constituency	Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford
	tabling member printed	Yvette Cooper
	uin	101696
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>The United Kingdom has a statutory obligation to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation and other support whilst their application for asylum is being considered.</p><p>The Departmental allocation for asylum support in 2022/23 main estimates was £1026m. This was funding provided directly by HM Treasury . We are in negotiations with HM Treasury through the supplementary estimates process regarding additional funding requirements. Funding allocations are based on the total asylum population, not how long individual asylum seekers have spent in the system.</p><p>FCDO is not allocated funding by HM Treasury for costs relating to asylum support in the UK and so has not allocated funding to cover such costs in 2022/23.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick grouped question UIN 101697 question first answered 08/12/2022 17:56:08 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	420 label Biography information for Yvette Cooper

1547650

	registered interest
	date	02/12/2022
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding has been allocated by (a) her Department and (b) FCDO in departmental budgets for financial year 2022-23 to cover support costs for people in receipt of asylum support for more than one year.
	tabling member constituency	Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford
	tabling member printed	Yvette Cooper
	uin	101697
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>The United Kingdom has a statutory obligation to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation and other support whilst their application for asylum is being considered.</p><p>The Departmental allocation for asylum support in 2022/23 main estimates was £1026m. This was funding provided directly by HM Treasury . We are in negotiations with HM Treasury through the supplementary estimates process regarding additional funding requirements. Funding allocations are based on the total asylum population, not how long individual asylum seekers have spent in the system.</p><p>FCDO is not allocated funding by HM Treasury for costs relating to asylum support in the UK and so has not allocated funding to cover such costs in 2022/23.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick grouped question UIN 101696 question first answered 08/12/2022 17:56:08 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	420 label Biography information for Yvette Cooper

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

1473148

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2022
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of asylum seekers awaiting an initial screening interview are in receipt of section 98 support.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North East
	tabling member printed	Anne McLaughlin
	uin	24611
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2022 answer text <p>The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of asylum seekers on Asylum Support. These statistics can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support." target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support.</a></p><p>The Home Office does not publish a breakdown of these statistics which disaggregates the number of asylum seekers awaiting an initial screening interview are in receipt of section 98 support. These figures are not available in a reportable format and to provide the information could only be done at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 01/07/2022 09:57:25 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 9886 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4437 label Biography information for Anne McLaughlin

1470246

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2022
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to publish her Department’s lessons learned review of the transition to ASPEN cards for asylum seekers in summer 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	17925
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2022 answer text <p>The Government is aware of the report. 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.</p><p>These cards are working and being used successfully to make purchases or withdraw funds (dependent on asylum seeker support type). Where replacement cards have been requested, they are being actioned swiftly and are being dispatched to service users accordingly. Card activation rates continue to increase. We are proactively working with partners to ensure that any eligible service users receive their new Aspen card and activate it successfully. In the interim, Emergency Cash Payments (ECPs) are being provided to support their critical needs.</p><p>There are no plans to publish the department’s Lessons learned review.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 29/06/2022 10:07:59 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove previous answer version 7491 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1464120

	registered interest
	date	18/05/2022
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2022 to Question 371, what proportion of Section 95 applications are resolved within the target time periods set out in that answer, in the most recent period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
	tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
	uin	4640
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/06/2022 answer text <p>These figures are not available in a reportable format and to provide the information could only be done at disproportionate cost. This is because we only hold operational data and it would need manual analysis and reporting.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 01/06/2022 16:26:35 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 3534 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1463349

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2022
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long asylum seekers who have been granted section 95 status currently have to wait to receive an Aspen card.
	tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
	tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
	uin	2592
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2022 answer text <p>When an asylum seeker in full-board initial accommodation (where there is Migrant Help physical presence) has been granted section 95 states an Aspen card will be issued within 4-6 working days. Where individuals are in other accommodation locations they will be sent Aspen cards by Royal Mail post, once issued.</p><p>We have undertaken improvement work to reduce the waiting time by introducing twice weekly reporting and ensuring prompt data sharing with Migrant Help.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 2593 question first answered 19/05/2022 15:06:35 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1463350

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2022
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the waiting time between asylum seekers being granted section 95 status and receiving an Aspen card.
	tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
	tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
	uin	2593
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2022 answer text <p>When an asylum seeker in full-board initial accommodation (where there is Migrant Help physical presence) has been granted section 95 states an Aspen card will be issued within 4-6 working days. Where individuals are in other accommodation locations they will be sent Aspen cards by Royal Mail post, once issued.</p><p>We have undertaken improvement work to reduce the waiting time by introducing twice weekly reporting and ensuring prompt data sharing with Migrant Help.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 2592 question first answered 19/05/2022 15:06:35 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1416928

	registered interest
	date	26/01/2022
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women and children are in receipt of asylum support under s98, s95 or s4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
	tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
	tabling member printed	Tim Farron
	uin	112524
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2022 answer text <p>The Home Office does not publish a breakdown of these statistics which disaggregates gender or age of supported of asylum seekers. These figures are not available in a reportable format and to provide the information could only be done at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 03/02/2022 15:34:38 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

1399195

	registered interest
	date	04/01/2022
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the ONS’s most recent data on consumer price inflation, published 15 December 2021, when her Department plans to review the rates of cash allowance for asylum seekers in response to the increased rate of inflation; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C McDonald
	uin	96895
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/01/2022 answer text <p>The Government has been reviewing the level of cash support provided to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute and expects to announce the outcome of the review shortly.</p><p>The review will take account of current levels of inflation.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 10/01/2022 12:32:20 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1352230

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2021
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will set support for asylum seekers at 70 per cent of universal credit entitlement in line with the representations made by the Safe Passage campaign.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh East
	tabling member printed	Tommy Sheppard
	uin	41957
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2021 answer text <p>Asylum seekers and their dependants who would otherwise be destitute are supported under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The package of support provided usually consists of free furnished accommodation with utility bills and council tax paid. Individuals are able to access free NHS healthcare and free education for children. They are also provided with a cash allowance to cover other essential living needs.</p><p>The level of the allowance is currently set at £39.63 per week for each person in the household. There are no plans to adjust the amount so that it is set at 70% of the rate of Universal Credit or align it with other mainstream benefits.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 10/09/2021 13:24:32 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4453 label Biography information for Tommy Sheppard

1352618

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2021
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what circumstances and asylum support provision persons issued with a Notice of Intent are being supported.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North East
	tabling member printed	Anne McLaughlin
	uin	41947
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2021 answer text <p>An asylum seeker who receives a “notice of intent” stating their asylum claim may be treated as inadmissible, is eligible to receive support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 if they would otherwise be destitute.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 09/09/2021 13:09:39 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4437 label Biography information for Anne McLaughlin

1347738

	registered interest
	date	16/07/2021
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people who were entitled to receive asylum support that did not have a functioning Aspen card in each week since the Aspen card transition.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	34481
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2021 answer text <p>Our systems do not allow us to provide the data requested. However, we can confirm fully functioning Aspen cards, including translated instructions on how to activate them, were distributed to all service users via first class post prior to the transition date of 24 May. The vast majority of service users who held a previous Sodexo Aspen card on 24<sup>th</sup> May - the date the new service went live - have now activated their new PFS Aspen card.</p><p>Those who have issues or are unsure how they can activate their cards are able to contact the 24/7 Migrant Help helpline. Where service users do not have active cards, Emergency Cash Payments (ECP) are being requested (accommodation providers can facilitate these) to ensure service user’s critical needs are met.</p><p>Our latest available management information proposes the following approximations for the activation of cards amongst those who previously held a Sodexo card prior to 24 May:</p><ul><li>As of 28/05 – approximately 73% of service users has activated their card</li><li>As of 04/06 – this figure rose to approximately 83%</li><li>As of 22/06 –over 93% of service users had activated their new Aspen card</li><li>As of 09/07 – over 95% had activated their card</li></ul><p><em>[These figures have been taken from a live operational database and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard].</em></p><p>We continue to work with strategic delivery partners to ensure all cards are successfully received and activated with the appropriate service users being targeted for assistance.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 21/07/2021 16:29:12 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1342449

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2021
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of asylum seekers in the asylum support system who do not have (a) a new or (b) functioning payment card that would allow them to access financial support.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C McDonald
	uin	24997
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2021 answer text <p>Fully functioning Aspen cards, including translated instructions on how to activate them, were distributed to all service users via first class post prior to the transition date of 24 May. The majority of eligible card holders had completed this activation process by 24 May and have had access to funds via their card. However, some card holders had yet to successfully activate their card by this date. We continue to work with strategic delivery partners to ensure all cards are successfully received and activated with targeted assistance.</p><p>Emergency cash payments (ECPs) are a longstanding operational contingency provision which has been in place for several years. The position on ECPs has not changed, and they have been used to support service users who had issues with their Aspen card over the transition period.</p><p>The only element which has changed during the service transition is the value of payments (increasing from £20 to £40 per week) and the fact accommodation providers can now self-authorise Emergency Cash Payments to expedite requests. Emergency Cash Payments will continue to be provided to service users who have not yet activated their new Aspen card.</p><p>The Home Office is in regular dialogue with Charites and third sector partners about the support they provide to service users.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 24998 24999 question first answered 05/07/2021 15:50:47 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1342451

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2021
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on asylum seekers in receipt of emergency payments following the transition to a new asylum support payment card.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C McDonald
	uin	24998
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2021 answer text <p>Fully functioning Aspen cards, including translated instructions on how to activate them, were distributed to all service users via first class post prior to the transition date of 24 May. The majority of eligible card holders had completed this activation process by 24 May and have had access to funds via their card. However, some card holders had yet to successfully activate their card by this date. We continue to work with strategic delivery partners to ensure all cards are successfully received and activated with targeted assistance.</p><p>Emergency cash payments (ECPs) are a longstanding operational contingency provision which has been in place for several years. The position on ECPs has not changed, and they have been used to support service users who had issues with their Aspen card over the transition period.</p><p>The only element which has changed during the service transition is the value of payments (increasing from £20 to £40 per week) and the fact accommodation providers can now self-authorise Emergency Cash Payments to expedite requests. Emergency Cash Payments will continue to be provided to service users who have not yet activated their new Aspen card.</p><p>The Home Office is in regular dialogue with Charites and third sector partners about the support they provide to service users.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 24997 24999 question first answered 05/07/2021 15:50:47 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1342453

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2021
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has plans to compensate charities that have provided emergency funds and food to people who have not had access to asylum support following the transition to a new payment card from May 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C McDonald
	uin	24999
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2021 answer text <p>Fully functioning Aspen cards, including translated instructions on how to activate them, were distributed to all service users via first class post prior to the transition date of 24 May. The majority of eligible card holders had completed this activation process by 24 May and have had access to funds via their card. However, some card holders had yet to successfully activate their card by this date. We continue to work with strategic delivery partners to ensure all cards are successfully received and activated with targeted assistance.</p><p>Emergency cash payments (ECPs) are a longstanding operational contingency provision which has been in place for several years. The position on ECPs has not changed, and they have been used to support service users who had issues with their Aspen card over the transition period.</p><p>The only element which has changed during the service transition is the value of payments (increasing from £20 to £40 per week) and the fact accommodation providers can now self-authorise Emergency Cash Payments to expedite requests. Emergency Cash Payments will continue to be provided to service users who have not yet activated their new Aspen card.</p><p>The Home Office is in regular dialogue with Charites and third sector partners about the support they provide to service users.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 24997 24998 question first answered 05/07/2021 15:50:48 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

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

1338528

	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the consistency across the UK of the provision of emergency cash payments by accommodation providers to asylum seekers during the transition of the Aspen card contract.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	19665
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2021 answer text <p>Emergency cash payments (ECPs) are a longstanding operational contingency provision in place for several years.</p><p>ECPs have been used to support service users who had issues with their Aspen card over the transition period. All accommodation providers have been instructed to ensure ECPs are provided to those in critical need of support during this period. Their use has been further adapted to meet the demand and remove barriers to authorisation which allow swift deployment.</p><p>Those who have issues or are unsure how they can activate their cards are able to contact the 24/7 Migrant Help helpline. There was an initial spike in relation to the volume of calls during the first week after going live, however the number of calls to Migrant Help has since reduced. Migrant Help also maintained the availability of their webchat and the Raise and Issue communication channels.</p><p>Migrant Help increased staffing numbers to support service users in the weeks ahead of the new service going live and thereafter during the transition. Additionally, during the transition to the new payment provider, there was an out of hours operational team working alongside Migrant Help to ensure ECPs could be provided to those who required a payment. Migrant Help continue to be the first point of contact to support service users in relation to any issues faced regarding asylum support.</p><p>Fully functioning Aspen cards, including translated instructions on how to activate them, were distributed to all service users via first class post prior to the transition date of 24 May. The majority of eligible card holders had completed this activation process by 24 May and have had access to funds via their card.</p><p>However, some card holders had yet to successfully activate their card by this date. As part of the transition of services we are working with our new card service supplier PFS to enhance data and understand the reasons behind the residual cards which are yet to be activated.</p><p>In addition, our accommodation and advice service providers are working closely to target support to all such service users to encourage and assist with those who are still yet to activate their cards. This includes ensuring subsistence support remains available through access to Emergency Cash Payments where appropriate and replacement cards are issued where delivery problems are reported to us.</p><p>It is not currently possible therefore to provide an accurate breakdown of the reasons some cards have not been activated or what proportion of this is due to a delivery issue.</p><p>Our latest available management information suggests the following approximations for the activation of cards:</p><ul><li>As of 28/05 – approximately 73% of service users has activated their card</li><li>As of 04/06 – this figure rose to approximately 83%</li><li>As of 22/06 –over 93% of service users had activated their new Aspen card<br></li></ul><p>It should be noted these figures have been taken from a live operational database and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.</p><p>We continue to work with strategic delivery partners to ensure all cards are successfully received and activated with the appropriate service users being targeted for assistance.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 19666 19667 question first answered 25/06/2021 12:21:40 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 9166 answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1338529

	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people who were entitled to receive asylum support that did not have a functioning Aspen card on (a) Monday 24 May, (b) Friday 28 May and (c) Friday 4 June 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	19666
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2021 answer text <p>Emergency cash payments (ECPs) are a longstanding operational contingency provision in place for several years.</p><p>ECPs have been used to support service users who had issues with their Aspen card over the transition period. All accommodation providers have been instructed to ensure ECPs are provided to those in critical need of support during this period. Their use has been further adapted to meet the demand and remove barriers to authorisation which allow swift deployment.</p><p>Those who have issues or are unsure how they can activate their cards are able to contact the 24/7 Migrant Help helpline. There was an initial spike in relation to the volume of calls during the first week after going live, however the number of calls to Migrant Help has since reduced. Migrant Help also maintained the availability of their webchat and the Raise and Issue communication channels.</p><p>Migrant Help increased staffing numbers to support service users in the weeks ahead of the new service going live and thereafter during the transition. Additionally, during the transition to the new payment provider, there was an out of hours operational team working alongside Migrant Help to ensure ECPs could be provided to those who required a payment. Migrant Help continue to be the first point of contact to support service users in relation to any issues faced regarding asylum support.</p><p>Fully functioning Aspen cards, including translated instructions on how to activate them, were distributed to all service users via first class post prior to the transition date of 24 May. The majority of eligible card holders had completed this activation process by 24 May and have had access to funds via their card.</p><p>However, some card holders had yet to successfully activate their card by this date. As part of the transition of services we are working with our new card service supplier PFS to enhance data and understand the reasons behind the residual cards which are yet to be activated.</p><p>In addition, our accommodation and advice service providers are working closely to target support to all such service users to encourage and assist with those who are still yet to activate their cards. This includes ensuring subsistence support remains available through access to Emergency Cash Payments where appropriate and replacement cards are issued where delivery problems are reported to us.</p><p>It is not currently possible therefore to provide an accurate breakdown of the reasons some cards have not been activated or what proportion of this is due to a delivery issue.</p><p>Our latest available management information suggests the following approximations for the activation of cards:</p><ul><li>As of 28/05 – approximately 73% of service users has activated their card</li><li>As of 04/06 – this figure rose to approximately 83%</li><li>As of 22/06 –over 93% of service users had activated their new Aspen card<br></li></ul><p>It should be noted these figures have been taken from a live operational database and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.</p><p>We continue to work with strategic delivery partners to ensure all cards are successfully received and activated with the appropriate service users being targeted for assistance.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 19665 19667 question first answered 25/06/2021 12:21:40 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 9167 answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1337963

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2021
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what risk assessments were made ahead of her Department's change of contractor for the provision of Aspen cards.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	17701
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2021 answer text <p>All Home Office projects, including the delivery of the new contract providing asylum support payments, have robust risk management mechanisms and practices in place. Engagement with our strategic delivery partners, accommodation providers and Migrant Help-including the consideration of risks-took place well in advance of the project rollout/go-live.</p><p>This will continue through an already-established service delivery management process which ensures ongoing risks are understood and appropriately managed across the many different provisions which support the asylum-seeking population.</p><p>The number of people eligible for asylum support; as well as the card activation rate; is a fluid and fluctuating figure. They change on a daily basis due to new service users entering the system, the provision of support and card activation numbers in particular increasing over time.</p><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 24<sup>th</sup> May 2021. Where replacement cards have been requested, they are being actioned swiftly and are being dispatched to service users accordingly.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 17702 question first answered 22/06/2021 15:06:48 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1337967

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2021
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have waited over four weeks for access to a working Aspen card from the date of their application in (a) the UK, (b) Wales and (c) Newport East in 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	17702
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2021 answer text <p>All Home Office projects, including the delivery of the new contract providing asylum support payments, have robust risk management mechanisms and practices in place. Engagement with our strategic delivery partners, accommodation providers and Migrant Help-including the consideration of risks-took place well in advance of the project rollout/go-live.</p><p>This will continue through an already-established service delivery management process which ensures ongoing risks are understood and appropriately managed across the many different provisions which support the asylum-seeking population.</p><p>The number of people eligible for asylum support; as well as the card activation rate; is a fluid and fluctuating figure. They change on a daily basis due to new service users entering the system, the provision of support and card activation numbers in particular increasing over time.</p><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 24<sup>th</sup> May 2021. Where replacement cards have been requested, they are being actioned swiftly and are being dispatched to service users accordingly.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 17701 question first answered 22/06/2021 15:06:48 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1337433

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2021
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information she holds on the progress on the roll-out of the Aspen card; and what percentage of those planned to receive that card have received it to date.
	tabling member constituency	Rochdale
	tabling member printed	Tony Lloyd
	uin	16790
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2021 answer text <p>If a service user is eligible for asylum support and a payment card but has not received their card, they have been advised this should be reported to Migrant Help as per the existing published process and guidance for service user concerns or issues.</p><p>Migrant Help will forward the concern onto the relevant operational team to investigate and action a replacement card, if needed, as well as issue an Emergency Cash Payment (ECP) to cover the period until the card arrives and is activated.</p><p>Service users can also contact their accommodation provider who have been instructed to reach out to service users known to not have activated their cards. Through these checks, accommodation providers are actively ensuring service users have both received their card and activated accordingly as well as self-authorise ECPs accordingly.</p><p>Finally, service users can also reach out to any third sector representatives/voluntary sector partners to escalate an issue on their behalf. Third sector colleagues have a direct escalation route to Home Office teams where they can direct issues (such as the need for replacement cards and issuing ECPs to service users) for Home Office colleagues to investigate and action.</p><p>The vast majority of service users have now received their new Aspen card, activated it and have been using it successfully since the service went live on Monday 24th May 2021.</p><p>Numbers are fluid as activation numbers continue to increase on a daily basis as well as having new eligible asylum seekers coming into the system over the same period of time.</p><p>We are proactively working with partners to ensure any eligible service users receive their new Aspen card and activate it successfully. In the interim, Emergency Cash Payments (ECPs) are being provided to support their critical needs.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 16791 question first answered 21/06/2021 17:09:44 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 8192 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	450 label Biography information for Tony Lloyd

1337434

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2021
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has published for people who have not yet received the Aspen card.
	tabling member constituency	Rochdale
	tabling member printed	Tony Lloyd
	uin	16791
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2021 answer text <p>If a service user is eligible for asylum support and a payment card but has not received their card, they have been advised this should be reported to Migrant Help as per the existing published process and guidance for service user concerns or issues.</p><p>Migrant Help will forward the concern onto the relevant operational team to investigate and action a replacement card, if needed, as well as issue an Emergency Cash Payment (ECP) to cover the period until the card arrives and is activated.</p><p>Service users can also contact their accommodation provider who have been instructed to reach out to service users known to not have activated their cards. Through these checks, accommodation providers are actively ensuring service users have both received their card and activated accordingly as well as self-authorise ECPs accordingly.</p><p>Finally, service users can also reach out to any third sector representatives/voluntary sector partners to escalate an issue on their behalf. Third sector colleagues have a direct escalation route to Home Office teams where they can direct issues (such as the need for replacement cards and issuing ECPs to service users) for Home Office colleagues to investigate and action.</p><p>The vast majority of service users have now received their new Aspen card, activated it and have been using it successfully since the service went live on Monday 24th May 2021.</p><p>Numbers are fluid as activation numbers continue to increase on a daily basis as well as having new eligible asylum seekers coming into the system over the same period of time.</p><p>We are proactively working with partners to ensure any eligible service users receive their new Aspen card and activate it successfully. In the interim, Emergency Cash Payments (ECPs) are being provided to support their critical needs.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 16790 question first answered 21/06/2021 17:09:44 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 8191 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	450 label Biography information for Tony Lloyd

1331211

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2021
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to ensure that any asylum seekers who have been adversely affected in the ongoing Aspen payment card transition will (a) have all back-payments due from 24 May 2021 automatically paid in full and (b) not suffer over-payment claw-backs of emergency payments given as a consequence of the payment card transition.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C McDonald
	uin	13088
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2021 answer text <p>Weekly payments are continuously accruing on Aspen cards for eligible asylum seekers, even if they have not yet received or activated their new card. Once successfully activated, service users can access their accrued funds, therefore no back-payments will be required.</p><p>The vast majority of cards have been activated and payments were available for those without ASPEN access.</p><p>The position on emergency cash payments and reconciliation of balances will be reviewed in due course.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 14/06/2021 16:59:32 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

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

1329931

	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	For what reason her Department continues to monitor asylum seekers' usage of Aspen Cards.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
	uin	901027
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/06/2021 answer text <p>Aspen cards are prepaid debit cards used to provide financial support to destitute asylum seekers. Their use is recorded and will be investigated where there are safeguarding concerns, for example to help locate a person who has gone missing, or potential breaches of the conditions of support to which the recipients have agreed, such as to prevent fraud.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 07/06/2021 16:05:22 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1329979

	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to compensate people who had no access to asylum support payments during the recent Aspen card transition; and what steps she is taking to ensure people do not temporarily lose access to asylum support payments in the future.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Riverside
	tabling member printed	Kim Johnson
	uin	11698
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2021 answer text <p>A significant majority of service users have received their new Aspen card and they have successfully activated and started using the card.</p><p>Those who have experienced issues have been supported via the provision of emergency cash payments until their issue has been resolved. Due to this, there has always been some form of access to asylum support payments for the user population (even without an ASPEN card).</p><p>The provision of emergency cash payment has been in place for some time and will continue to be in place where emergency access to asylum support is required.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 15/06/2021 16:02:46 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4824 label Biography information for Kim Johnson