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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

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

222783

	registered interest
	date	23/02/2015
	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, in relation to the Azure Card scheme, what assessment they have made of the possibility of introducing a time limit for support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL5124
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2015 answer text <p>No such assessment has been made.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 02/03/2015 15:14:12 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

224957

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2015
	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, further to the remarks by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 20 November 2014 (HL Deb, cols 545–67), what further information has been provided to individuals for support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 on how to apply for extra assistance, and in which languages.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL5401
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>It is not currently possible to purchase travel tickets with the Azure card for practical reasons. Accommodation is provided within walking distance of shops and other services and tickets are provided for essential medical appointments.</p><p>Information and guidance about travel assistance is published on the GOV.UK website and it is widely known about by the voluntary sector organisations that assist Azure card users, including Migrant Help, which is funded by the Home Office to provide an advice service. Additionally, a mailshot sent out in the week commencing 16 February 2015 provided a reminder to all card users of where to find information on applying for additional assistance.</p><p>Any retail outlet that provides food and other essential living items and accepts visa transactions can apply to join the Azure card scheme. The card is currently accepted by Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, the Co-operative, Iceland, Boots, Mothercare, The British Red Cross, The Salvation Army and a few small independent retailers.</p><p>Support is provided in some circumstances to failed asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This is generally because there is a temporary legal or practical obstacle to their departure, for example because the person is too sick to travel or needs time to apply for the necessary travel document. The Government currently has no plans to change this provision.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL5400 HL5402 HL5403 question first answered 09/03/2015 16:24:47 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

175910

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2015
	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, further to the remarks by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 20 November 2014 (HL Deb, cols 545–610), what extra information on how Azure Card users can apply for travel assistance has been provided.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL4490
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2015 answer text <p>Information and guidance about travel assistance is published on the GOV.UK website and is widely known by the voluntary sector organisations that assist Azure card users, including Migrant Help, which is funded by the Home Office to provide an advice service. However, a mailshot planned for February will provide information direct to all card users.</p><p>The Azure Card is accepted by over 8,000 retail outlets. These include the following retailers: Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, the Co-operative, Boots, Iceland, Mothercare, The British Red Cross, The Salvation Army and a few small independent retailers.</p><p>Since the card was introduced in 2009 the majority of the main UK retailers have been approached and have either agreed to join the scheme or have declined to do so. However, there are ongoing discussions with some retailers who may still be interested in joining the scheme.</p><p>There is no numerical target on the number of retailers that might be added to the scheme.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 05/02/2015 14:11:36 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

175911

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2015
	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, further to the remarks by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 20 November 2014 (HL Deb, cols 545–610), how many retailers they have (1) approached, and (2) added to the Azure Card scheme.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL4491
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2015 answer text <p>Information and guidance about travel assistance is published on the GOV.UK website and is widely known by the voluntary sector organisations that assist Azure card users, including Migrant Help, which is funded by the Home Office to provide an advice service. However, a mailshot planned for February will provide information direct to all card users.</p><p>The Azure Card is accepted by over 8,000 retail outlets. These include the following retailers: Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, the Co-operative, Boots, Iceland, Mothercare, The British Red Cross, The Salvation Army and a few small independent retailers.</p><p>Since the card was introduced in 2009 the majority of the main UK retailers have been approached and have either agreed to join the scheme or have declined to do so. However, there are ongoing discussions with some retailers who may still be interested in joining the scheme.</p><p>There is no numerical target on the number of retailers that might be added to the scheme.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL4492 question first answered 05/02/2015 14:10:49 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

346825

	registered interest
	date	27/05/2015
	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, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 19 March 2015 (HL5545), why those listed as receiving support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 cannot be returned to their countries of origin.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL63
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2015 answer text <p>Failed asylum seekers are provided with support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 if they are destitute and can show that there is a temporary legal or practical obstacle that prevents them from leaving the United Kingdom voluntarily. The precise reasons why they are temporarily unable to leave vary from case to case, but examples include where they are too sick to travel and because they have been granted permission to apply for a judicial review of a decision relating to their asylum claim.</p><p>All retail outlets that accept the Azure card receive information about the rules relating to card purchases. The Home Office is aware that there are some instances where card purchases are refused, but in the great majority of cases this is simply because the person had insufficient credit on the card to purchase the items they were seeking to obtain. Reports of where the card purchase has been refused for other reasons are investigated and the matter taken up with the particular retail outlet.</p><p>Card users can apply for travel tickets to attend essential medical appointments. The cost of travel to essential appointments with legal advisers is covered through legal aid. Accommodation is provided within walking distance of shops and other services.</p><p>Information and guidance about how to apply for travel assistance is published on the GOV.UK website and it is also provided by the voluntary sector organisations that assist Azure card users, including Migrant Help, which is funded by the Home Office to provide an advice service.</p><p>Any retail outlet that provides food and other essential living items and accepts visa transactions can apply to join the Azure card scheme and talks periodically take place with new outlets that have expressed an interest in joining the scheme.</p><p>However, the card is currently accepted by Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, the Co-operative, Iceland, Boots, Mothercare, The British Red Cross, The Salvation Army and a few small independent retailers. The Home Office is therefore satisfied that the card is an effective way of ensuing that the persons are able to purchase food and other necessary items to cover their essential living needs.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL65 HL66 HL67 question first answered 04/06/2015 15:28:00 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

101286

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2014
	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 why individuals on support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are prohibited from accessing any kind of transportation with the Azure Card.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL2491
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>Failed asylum seekers supported under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are provided with accommodation, utilities, household equipment and free healthcare. A weekly allowance to the value of £35.39 is also provided for each person in the household. The Government is satisfied that this package of support is sufficient to meet their essential needs.</p><p>It is not currently possible to purchase travel tickets with the Azure card for practical reasons. Accommodation is provided within walking distance of shops and other services and tickets are provided for essential medical appointments.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL2490 question first answered 11/11/2014 16:56:42 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

100999

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	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 why an Azure Card user does not qualify for emergency food vouchers when a technical problem occurs with the card.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL2455
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>The Azure card is issued to destitute failed asylum seekers accommodated under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 because they are temporarily unable to leave the United Kingdom.</p><p>The card is updated each week with credit to the value of £35.39 for each person in the household to enable them to buy enough food and other essential items.</p><p>The table below lists the retailers that accept the Azure card and the total amounts spent at each of them since it was introduced. The table includes Peacocks, which no longer participates in the card scheme.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Retailer Name</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Value (£)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tesco</p></td><td><p>20,660,480.59</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Asda</p></td><td><p>11,373,929.59</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sainsbury's</p></td><td><p>5,935,535.81</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Morrisons</p></td><td><p>2,528,626.86</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Boots</p></td><td><p>2,478,849.23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Peacock Group</p></td><td><p>333,709.46</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Co-operative Group Food</p></td><td><p>250,074.03</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Food City Halal Market</p></td><td><p>202,813.59</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mothercare</p></td><td><p>39,947.70</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Iceland Foods</p></td><td><p>38,311.88</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Midlands Co-operative</p></td><td><p>22,172.05</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Salvation Army</p></td><td><p>3,544.40</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British Red Cross</p></td><td><p>3,380.32</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Masala Bazaar</p></td><td><p>330.55</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Holland and Barrett</p></td><td><p>326.68</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Information and training materials are provided to the retailers about the terms and conditions attached to the card, which are reviewed and updated regularly.</p><p>We are aware of some isolated instances where people have been denied purchases, but in the great majority of cases this is because they had insufficient funds on the card to buy the particular items.</p><p>If there is a defect in the card that means it cannot be used, for example because it has been damaged, arrangements are made to issue vouchers.</p><p> </p><p><br></p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL2454 HL2456 HL2458 question first answered 11/11/2014 17:10:19 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

224959

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2015
	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 whether, as section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 is intended to promote a form of temporary support, Azure Card users can be returned to provision under section 95 for cash support after a period of one year.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL5403
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>It is not currently possible to purchase travel tickets with the Azure card for practical reasons. Accommodation is provided within walking distance of shops and other services and tickets are provided for essential medical appointments.</p><p>Information and guidance about travel assistance is published on the GOV.UK website and it is widely known about by the voluntary sector organisations that assist Azure card users, including Migrant Help, which is funded by the Home Office to provide an advice service. Additionally, a mailshot sent out in the week commencing 16 February 2015 provided a reminder to all card users of where to find information on applying for additional assistance.</p><p>Any retail outlet that provides food and other essential living items and accepts visa transactions can apply to join the Azure card scheme. The card is currently accepted by Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, the Co-operative, Iceland, Boots, Mothercare, The British Red Cross, The Salvation Army and a few small independent retailers.</p><p>Support is provided in some circumstances to failed asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This is generally because there is a temporary legal or practical obstacle to their departure, for example because the person is too sick to travel or needs time to apply for the necessary travel document. The Government currently has no plans to change this provision.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL5400 HL5401 HL5402 question first answered 09/03/2015 16:24:46 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno