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<p>We have been reviewing the level of the cash allowances provided to asylum seekers
who would otherwise be destitute, as we do each year to ensure that they remain capable
of meeting their essential living needs (the legal test).</p><p> </p><p>As a result
of this work, the standard allowance has been raised to £39.60 per week from £37.75
per week, an increase of around 5%. This increase is significantly higher than the
current general rate of inflation, which Office for National Statistics data shows
was only 0.5% in the 12 months period to May.</p><p> </p><p>Confirmatory work, including
taking account of possible Covid 19 impacts, is ongoing and the result of the full
review will be published indue course.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has a generous record
in supporting asylum seekers. Last year, we made around 20,000 grants of asylum or
protection (one of the higher figures in Europe), as well as offered protection to
3,000 Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children – the highest number of any country in
Europe. In addition, we have directly resettled around 20,000 people from the most
dangerous areas of the world (especially Syrians) in the UK over the last 5 years.
Finally, we spend around £14 billion per year in Overseas Aid, helping millions of
people around the world. This is the highest amount of any country in Europe and we
are the only G7 country to meet the 0.7% of GNI Overseas Aid target.</p>
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