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1657639

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

1580963

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

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

1330247

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

1330248

registered interest
date	07/06/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the failure to pay benefits to asylum seekers due to contractual changes to the ASPEN card payments system; and what steps they will take to ensure that this does not happen again.
tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
uin	HL803
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2021 answer text <p>The PrePaid Financial Services (PFS) solution is a well-established Mastercard pre-paid card that is 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 it. For those who have done this the service is functioning as expected. 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>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 21/06/2021 15:51:48 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

1290187

registered interest
date	25/02/2021
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 when they introduced the provision of £39.63 in cash support to those seeking asylum in the UK; and what are the eligibility criteria for that payment.
tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
uin	HL13714
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2021 answer text <p>Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute are provided with accommodation and a weekly allowance to cover their other essential living needs.</p><p>The level of the standard allowance is reviewed each year and adjusted where necessary. As a result of this year’s review the allowance has been raised from £37.75 per week to £39.63 per week. The £39.63 rate took effect from 22 February 2021, although an earlier exceptional temporary increase to £39.60 was implemented from 15 June 2020 pending the outcome of the full review.</p><p>The allowance is reduced if the asylum seeker is accommodated in full-board facilities where some of their essential living needs, for example food and toiletries, are provided in kind.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 10/03/2021 17:36:08 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno