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100008

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	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 whether they intend to review the azure payment card for asylum seekers as a result of the new report by the British Red Cross on the humanitarian cost of the card.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2223
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The Azure card is issued to destitute failed asylum seekers who require support because they are temporarily unable to leave the United Kingdom and can be used at most of the main supermarket chains to purchase food and other essential items. The performance of the card is kept under regular review and the views of reputable partners such as the Red Cross are carefully considered but the Government is satisfied that it is an effective way of ensuring the individuals are able to meet their essential living needs and not left destitute.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 27/10/2014 12:15:07 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

100012

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	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 how many asylum claimants are left without any state support, on reaching the age of 18.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2227
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>There is no reason why any asylum seekers should be left without support on reaching the age of 18. Unaccompanied asylum seeking children are looked after by local authorities and most will continue to be supported in this way after the age of 18 under leaving care legislation while they remain in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Any asylum seeker that does not have an entitlement to leaving care support would be eligible to support from the Home Office under the provisions of section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 if they were destitute.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 27/10/2014 12:40:35 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

100071

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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 whether they have assessed the effectiveness of the combination of the Azure payment card and support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 in enabling refused asylum seekers to meet their basic needs.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2277
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 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. The card can be used at most of the main supermarket chains to purchase food and other essential items. The performance of the card is kept under regular review but the Government is satisfied that it is an effective way of ensuring that recipients are able to meet their essential living needs and are not left destitute.</p><p> </p><p>The Government therefore has no plans to abolish the card or change legislation to allow people supported under section 4 to receive cash instead.</p><p> </p><p>The total administrative costs of the card scheme since it was introduced in 2009 are approximately £1,515,000. Estimated administrative costs for the current financial year are £200,000.</p><p> </p><p>The Government published its response to the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee report about asylum procedures in December 2013 (cm 8769). A response to the Committee’s views on section 4 support was set out on page 18-19.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL2278 HL2279 HL2280 HL2281 question first answered 28/10/2014 15:17:54 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

100072

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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 what plans they have to abolish the Azure payment card and amend legislation to enable the provision of cash support for all refused asylum seekers until they are either given status in the United Kingdom or return to their country of origin.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2278
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 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. The card can be used at most of the main supermarket chains to purchase food and other essential items. The performance of the card is kept under regular review but the Government is satisfied that it is an effective way of ensuring that recipients are able to meet their essential living needs and are not left destitute.</p><p> </p><p>The Government therefore has no plans to abolish the card or change legislation to allow people supported under section 4 to receive cash instead.</p><p> </p><p>The total administrative costs of the card scheme since it was introduced in 2009 are approximately £1,515,000. Estimated administrative costs for the current financial year are £200,000.</p><p> </p><p>The Government published its response to the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee report about asylum procedures in December 2013 (cm 8769). A response to the Committee’s views on section 4 support was set out on page 18-19.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL2277 HL2279 HL2280 HL2281 question first answered 28/10/2014 15:17:55 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

100073

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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 how much they have spent on administering the Azure card system since its inception.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2279
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 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. The card can be used at most of the main supermarket chains to purchase food and other essential items. The performance of the card is kept under regular review but the Government is satisfied that it is an effective way of ensuring that recipients are able to meet their essential living needs and are not left destitute.</p><p> </p><p>The Government therefore has no plans to abolish the card or change legislation to allow people supported under section 4 to receive cash instead.</p><p> </p><p>The total administrative costs of the card scheme since it was introduced in 2009 are approximately £1,515,000. Estimated administrative costs for the current financial year are £200,000.</p><p> </p><p>The Government published its response to the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee report about asylum procedures in December 2013 (cm 8769). A response to the Committee’s views on section 4 support was set out on page 18-19.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL2277 HL2278 HL2280 HL2281 question first answered 28/10/2014 15:17:55 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

100074

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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 what is their forecast annual cost for administering the Azure card payment scheme in the coming year.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2280
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 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. The card can be used at most of the main supermarket chains to purchase food and other essential items. The performance of the card is kept under regular review but the Government is satisfied that it is an effective way of ensuring that recipients are able to meet their essential living needs and are not left destitute.</p><p> </p><p>The Government therefore has no plans to abolish the card or change legislation to allow people supported under section 4 to receive cash instead.</p><p> </p><p>The total administrative costs of the card scheme since it was introduced in 2009 are approximately £1,515,000. Estimated administrative costs for the current financial year are £200,000.</p><p> </p><p>The Government published its response to the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee report about asylum procedures in December 2013 (cm 8769). A response to the Committee’s views on section 4 support was set out on page 18-19.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL2277 HL2278 HL2279 HL2281 question first answered 28/10/2014 15:17:56 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

100075

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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 what is their response to the conclusion of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee that "section 4 is not the solution for people who have been refused but cannot be returned" as stated in their report <i>Asylum</i> (7th Report of session 2013–14, HC 71).
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2281
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 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. The card can be used at most of the main supermarket chains to purchase food and other essential items. The performance of the card is kept under regular review but the Government is satisfied that it is an effective way of ensuring that recipients are able to meet their essential living needs and are not left destitute.</p><p> </p><p>The Government therefore has no plans to abolish the card or change legislation to allow people supported under section 4 to receive cash instead.</p><p> </p><p>The total administrative costs of the card scheme since it was introduced in 2009 are approximately £1,515,000. Estimated administrative costs for the current financial year are £200,000.</p><p> </p><p>The Government published its response to the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee report about asylum procedures in December 2013 (cm 8769). A response to the Committee’s views on section 4 support was set out on page 18-19.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL2277 HL2278 HL2279 HL2280 question first answered 28/10/2014 15:17:56 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

100998

	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 how many retailers are part of the Azure Card programme; and what is the total amount spent with each retailer since the card's inception.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2454
	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 HL2455 HL2456 HL2458 question first answered 11/11/2014 17:10:18 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
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	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

101000

	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 what efforts have been made to ensure that staff at retailers who accept the Azure Card are educated about the card’s rules and do not deny card users purchases which they are entitled to make.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2456
	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 HL2455 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

101001

	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 how many people have been on support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 for a period in excess of (1) six months, (2) one year and (3) five years.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2457
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2014 answer text <p>The information requested is shown in the following table:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p><strong>Length of time people have been on Section 4 support</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Period on support</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of People</strong></p></td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>6 to 12 months</p></td><td><p>684</p></td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>1 year to 5 years</p></td><td><p>3013</p></td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>5 years or more</p></td><td><p>698</p></td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 18/11/2014 15:22:06 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

101002

	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 what is their assessment of the statement by Refugee Action that more than 90 per cent of those on support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 regularly missed a meal.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2458
	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 HL2455 HL2456 question first answered 11/11/2014 17:10:20 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

101285

	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 whether they consider those on support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to be able to meet their basic needs from that support alone.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2490
	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 HL2491 question first answered 11/11/2014 16:56:40 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
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	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

101680

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	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 whether they consider that Azure Card users are able to meet their essential living needs; and on what grounds they base their assessment.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2502
	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 healthcare are provided free. The Azure Card is provided to enable them to buy food and other items and is uploaded each week to the value of £35.39 for each person in the household. Extra assistance is also provided where necessary, for example by arranging travel to medical appointments and by providing maternity grants for pregnant women.</p><p>The Government keeps this package of assistance under review but is satisfied that it meets the essential living needs of recipients of section 4 support.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 11/11/2014 16:51:54 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

1023211

	registered interest
	date	11/12/2018
	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 financial support mechanisms his Department has in place to support asylum seekers.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	201228
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2018 answer text <p>The Home Office ensures asylum seekers are not left destitute by providing appropriate support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. 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. But those who find accommodation through friends or relatives may be provided with the allowance only. <br> <br>The level of the allowance, currently set at £37.75 per week for each person in the household, is reviewed each year to make sure it is sufficient to cover essential living needs.</p><p>The most recent assessment of the adequacy of the asylum support rates is set out in a report published in March 2018, which can be found at:<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-cash-allowance-paid-to-asylum-seekers.%20" target="_blank"> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-cash-allowance-paid-to-asylum-seekers. </a></p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 17/12/2018 16:57:10 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1055898

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2019
	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 undertook a Data protection impact assessment (a) or (b) after the introduction of the Aspen card in asylum support arrangements.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	217611
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>The introduction of Aspen (2016) pre-dates the requirement for a data pro-tection impact assessment (DPIA), which was introduced as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Appropriate legal advice was nevertheless obtained prior to the scheme being launched. In line with good practice, a review of current practice is being conducted to ensure that it is compliant with the GDPR, which will include the completion of a DPIA.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 12/02/2019 12:01:58 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1055899

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2019
	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 he has held discussions with the Information Commissioner on the effect of the introduction of the Aspen on (a) data protection and (b) an individuals privacy.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	217612
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>The introduction of the Aspen Card and its effect on data protection and privacy has not been discussed with the Information Commissioner.</p><p>As part of the project, consideration was given to the privacy aspects of the scheme. The terms and conditions relating to Aspen usage received appropriate legal scrutiny prior to being published and make it clear that personal data will be used only for the prevention of fraud and to preserve the integrity of the scheme which includes ensuring the welfare of card users</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 21/02/2019 16:44:01 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1055900

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2019
	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 asylum seekers have had their asylum support (a) suspended and (b) discontinued as a result of information obtained by the monitoring of the usage of an Aspen card.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	217613
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>Where evidence comes to light that would suggest a supported asylum ap-plicant has access to alternative accommodation and support, we would invite the applicant to give an account of their activity.</p><p>Evidence can come from a number of sources, including Aspen usage data. Suspension and any subsequent discontinuation of support due to a breach of conditions carries a right of appeal. Data is not held in a publishable format.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 21/02/2019 16:45:37 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

106185

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2014
	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 how many people for whom return is not possible have been in receipt of support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 for longer than six months.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2656
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2014 answer text <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.</p><p>Although no specific records are kept, only a small number of people seek support because they claim they are permanently unable to leave the UK. Support is provided because there is a temporary legal or practical obstacle to departure, for example because the person is too sick to travel or needs time to apply for the necessary travel document. The number of people who have been on section 4 support for more than 6 months is 4,395.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 18/11/2014 15:20:07 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

106186

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2014
	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 what is the total amount of unspent credit which has been removed from Azure card users as a result of the card's £5 carry-over limit.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2657
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2014 answer text <p>Approximately £850,000 of credit has not been used since the card was introduced in December 2009 for this reason.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Taylor of Holbeach question first answered 18/11/2014 15:21:09 answering member 3787 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Holbeach
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

1124892

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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 funding currently dedicated to asylum matters will be ring-fenced following the UK's departure from the EU.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL15567
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>There are currently no plans to apply a ring fence to asylum payments in this financial year.</p><p>Any new restrictions to departmental spending would be agreed with HM Treasury. Any further changes would form part of the Spending Review discussions taking place this year for financial year 2020-21 onwards.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 21/05/2019 15:29:48 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

1129771

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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, for what reason his Department decided to move the provision of financial support to asylum seekers from post offices to Aspen cards.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	260049
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>The functionality of the Aspen card was thoroughly tested prior to its rollout in May 2017 and there were a number of factors which influenced the decision to move to a payment card from Post Offices.</p><p>Primarily, the sub-contractual arrangements were coming to an end, and the Asylum Registration Card (ARC) used for identification and payment purposes was being upgraded. Other factors included improved convenience and accessibility for service users, and a reduction in processing costs associated with reduced cash handling.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 11/06/2019 14:08:25 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1129775

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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 financial support was paid to asylum seekers through post offices in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	260050
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>Post May 2017 all funding for financial support was paid to asylum seekers via ASPEN cards and prior to that Home Office records do not indicate whether financial support was paid via a Post Office, a card or in cash/vouchers to asylum seekers.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 11/06/2019 14:08:59 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1129776

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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 his Department's contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through an Aspen card will expire.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	260051
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office’s contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through an Aspen Card will expire on 27 November 2019 (with the option to extend for a further 6 months to 27 May 2020).</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 11/06/2019 14:13:17 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1129777

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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 is of the contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through Aspen cards.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	260052
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office does not publish data on the costs to the public purse for the contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through Aspen cards.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 11/06/2019 14:09:56 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1132227

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2019
	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 recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding allocated to local authorities to provide services to meet the needs of asylum seekers.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
	tabling member printed	Ian Murray
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	264766
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office are engaging closely with Local Authority Chief Executives on a continuous basis to assess the costs associated with meeting the needs of asylum seekers. As recently outlined in correspondence between Ministers and Local Authorities, it has been agreed that this joint review will be co-designed and co-produced by Local Authorities and the Home Office.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 19/06/2019 12:02:28 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

1143884

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2019
	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 extend the contract with Sodexo to pay asylum seekers through the use of an Aspen card by six months.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	285345
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office intend to extend the contract for three months but reserve the right to extend for a further three months if required.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 05/09/2019 16:30:11 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1144423

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2019
	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 her Department paid to Sodexo to provide the Aspen card service in each year for which data is available; and what estimate her Department has made of the future costs of that service.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	286296
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 09/09/2019 16:39:36 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1144807

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2019
	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 her Department is taking to ensure people who are in receipt of Section 4 support are able to cover (a) travel fares which can only be purchased with cash and (b) other upfront travel costs in order to report at Home Office reporting centres.
	tabling member constituency	Stoke-on-Trent North
	tabling member printed	Ruth Smeeth
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	286814
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 09/09/2019 16:47:52 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4508 label Biography information for Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent

1144809

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2019
	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 her Department has taken to ensure reporting frequencies are not excessively (a) burdensome and (b) expensive for people who live in places where the journey to a reporting centre is significant.
	tabling member constituency	Stoke-on-Trent North
	tabling member printed	Ruth Smeeth
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	286815
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency South Ribble answering member printed Seema Kennedy question first answered 09/09/2019 16:54:51 answering member 4455 label Biography information for Seema Kennedy
	tabling member	4508 label Biography information for Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent

1145333

	registered interest
	date	06/09/2019
	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 proportion of applicants for support under section 4(2) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, in the last year for which records are held, were asked to provide further information to support their request, broken down by the reason further information was required.
	tabling member printed	Lord Watson of Invergowrie
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL17784
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>The information requested would require a manual trawl of records of all service users receiving section 4 support and could only be provided at a dis-proportionate cost.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 08/10/2019 11:16:37 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	1241 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Invergowrie

1145611

	registered interest
	date	24/09/2019
	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 her Department paid to Sodexo to provide the Aspen card service in each year for which data is available; and what estimate her Department has made of the future costs of that service.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	290395
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office does not publish data on the costs of the Sodexo contract as it is considered commercially sensitive.</p><p>As we are in the process of retendering for the payment card we are unable to provide any information on future costs.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 08/10/2019 15:00:21 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1147094

	registered interest
	date	30/09/2019
	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 her Department is taking to ensure that people who are in receipt of Section 4 support are able to pay (a) travel fares which can only be purchased with cash and (b) other upfront travel costs in order to report at Home Office reporting centres.
	tabling member constituency	Stoke-on-Trent North
	tabling member printed	Ruth Smeeth
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	292322
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 08/10/2019 16:09:52 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4508 label Biography information for Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent

1148816

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	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 her Department is taking to ensure that people who are in receipt of support under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are able to pay (a) travel costs that can only be paid in cash and (b) other travel costs in order to attend Home Office reporting centres.
	tabling member constituency	Stoke-on-Trent North
	tabling member printed	Ruth Smeeth
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	293
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>The assistance available to people supported under section 4 of the 1999 Act consists of accommodation (with gas, electricity and water provided free) and provision of a debit card (the “Aspen Card”) which can be used to buy food and other essential items. The Aspen card cannot be used to withdraw cash, but it bears the visa logo and can be used at retail outlets that accept visa transactions.</p><p>If the supported person is required to report as a condition of their immigration bail their travel costs are also covered if they are accommodated more than 3 miles away from the reporting centre or in certain other circumstances, for example if they are unable to walk because of a disability.</p><p>In practical terms the travel costs are covered by issuing tickets or by uploading further funds on to the person’s Aspen card.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 05/11/2019 12:43:37 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4508 label Biography information for Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent

1149947

	registered interest
	date	16/10/2019
	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 criteria they use to determine whether an applicant for section 4 asylum support should be considered particularly vulnerable; what is the target timescale for an asylum seeker who is deemed to be vulnerable to receive that support under Home Office guidelines; and what was the average time taken for a payment to be made after an application for support by an applicant that met that criteria in the most recent period for which figures are available.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL154
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>The Asylum Seekers (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2005 define a vulnerable person as:</p><ul><li>A minor</li><li>A disabled person</li><li>An elderly person</li><li>A pregnant woman</li><li>A person who has been subjected to torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence;</li><li>A person who has had an individual evaluation of his situation that confirms he/she has special needs.</li></ul><p>Accommodation providers are also contractually required to take account of any particular circumstances and vulnerability of those that they accommodate. The definition of vulnerability in the contracts is the same as the one set out in the 2005 Regulations.</p><p>The particular circumstances of other supported asylum seekers and their dependants who may have other particular vulnerabilities are also carefully considered, for example because they have care needs or health problems that require a need for a specific type of accommodation or accommodation in a particular location. Further details regarding these policies can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-accommodation-requests-policy" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-accommodation-requests-policy</a></p><p>We aim to decide most of these applications within 5 working days, or 2 days of the Home Office reviewing the application if the person is vulnerable, but some take longer because of the need to make further enquiries to establish that the person is eligible to receive the support.</p><p>The Home Office monitors closely the performance of asylum support application decision making and has a range of targets for processing support applications depending on the nature of the application being made. However information on processing times is not recorded in a format suitable for publication. We are currently in the process of embedding a new system and reporting tools and once this has been implemented we will review our reporting processes,.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 30/10/2019 17:56:56 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford attachment 1 file name Allocation-Of-Accommodation-v5_0.pdf title Accommodation Requests policy
	tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1173243

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2020
	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 monitor the time taken to issue ASPEN cards to people on asylum support; and what steps she is taking to ensure that back payments are paid in cases where there has been a delay in issuing that card.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	7663
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>A dedicated ASPEN team is in place and manages, via the AIRE Service Provider, all enquiries relating to ASPEN Cards which includes a contact email inbox.</p><p>The HO does not routinely collect data on the time taken to issue ASPEN cards but we are continuing to work with all accommodation providers to ensure that applicants are able to access financial support upon dispersal. There is an Emergency Support Payment (ECP) provision available from Providers to ensure that Service Users are supported until receipt of their ASPEN Card.</p><p>For service users awaiting payment of backdated support, there is a priority workstream in place which is subject to robust scrutiny to ensure correct levels of backdated support are provided.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 7664 question first answered 30/06/2020 13:10:35 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1173244

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2020
	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 has taken to ensure that people in receipt of asylum support are able to access payments via their ASPEN card when moved to dispersal accommodation.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	7664
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>A dedicated ASPEN team is in place and manages, via the AIRE Service Provider, all enquiries relating to ASPEN Cards which includes a contact email inbox.</p><p>The HO does not routinely collect data on the time taken to issue ASPEN cards but we are continuing to work with all accommodation providers to ensure that applicants are able to access financial support upon dispersal. There is an Emergency Support Payment (ECP) provision available from Providers to ensure that Service Users are supported until receipt of their ASPEN Card.</p><p>For service users awaiting payment of backdated support, there is a priority workstream in place which is subject to robust scrutiny to ensure correct levels of backdated support are provided.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 7663 question first answered 30/06/2020 13:10:35 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1176528

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2020
	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 her Department plans to extend the contract with Sodexo for the provision of Aspen cards to asylum seekers.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	13048
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/04/2020 answer text <p>A new supplier will provide payment card services following transition from the current provider, Sodexo. Timelines are currently being finalised.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 06/04/2020 16:30:00 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1184644

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2020
	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 Department's target is for issuing ASPEN cards; and what recent assessment her Department has made of performance against those targets.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford East
	tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	28746
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2020 answer text <p>The HO does not routinely collect data on the time taken to issue ASPEN cards but we are continuing to work with all accommodation providers to ensure that applicants are able to access financial support upon dispersal. There is an Emergency Support Payment (ECP) provision available from Providers to ensure that Service Users are supported until receipt of their ASPEN Card.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 19/03/2020 16:45:33 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds

1186598

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2020
	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 additional support will be provided to asylum seekers using ASPEN cards to ensure they have access to sufficient food and supplies during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	32242
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>We take the welfare of our service users very seriously and we are considering a range of options to ensure that ensure service users have sufficient support during the COVID 10 outbreak, ensuring that we are adhering to Public Health England guidance.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 27/03/2020 13:20:59 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1187941

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2020
	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 plans they have to suspend all terminations of asylum support temporarily as part of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2955
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2020 answer text <p>Following public health guidance, we have put in place a number of measures to support people in the asylum system who are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, including working closely with providers to make sure the most vulnerable people within the system receive the support they need.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 08/04/2020 14:02:20 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1189746

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2020
	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 plans they have to (1) increase asylum support rates in line with Universal Credit, and (2) provide further support to asylum seekers to assist with essential living requirements, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
	tabling member printed	Lord Judd
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3263
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>We are currently reviewing the level of the cash allowances, as we do each year, to ensure that they remain capable of meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers. There are no plans to increase the level of the cash allowances to Universal Credit levels.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 05/05/2020 16:06:27 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	1660 label Biography information for Lord Judd

1189879

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2020
	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 they will credit the Aspen cards for asylum seekers with more than one week’s allowance at a time.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hamwee
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3390
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>We are currently reviewing the level of the cash allowances, as we do each year, to ensure that they remain capable of meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 11/05/2020 11:02:45 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	2652 label Biography information for Baroness Hamwee

1191716

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2020
	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 her Department will increase financial support for asylum seekers during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	41562
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>We are currently reviewing the level of the cash allowances, as we do each year, to ensure that they remain capable of meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers. In addition to weekly cash payments, asylum seekers who claim support also receive free furnished accommodation in which utilities are paid for.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 20/05/2020 08:03:32 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1192203

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2020
	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 adequacy of asylum support rates.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	42020
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>We are currently reviewing the level of the cash allowances, as we do each year, to ensure that they remain capable of meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 42021 question first answered 11/05/2020 13:45:35 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1192204

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2020
	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 increase asylum support rates.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	42021
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>We are currently reviewing the level of the cash allowances, as we do each year, to ensure that they remain capable of meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 42020 question first answered 11/05/2020 13:45:35 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1193215

	registered interest
	date	05/05/2020
	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 set asylum support at 70 per cent of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	43752
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>We are currently reviewing the level of the cash allowances, as we do each year, to ensure that these meet the essential living needs of asylum seekers. The level of the cash allowances is not linked to Universal Credit.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 12/05/2020 16:53:05 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1195180

	registered interest
	date	12/05/2020
	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 answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 6 May (HL Deb, col 441), when the current review of asylum support commenced; when that review is due to be completed; and whether that review will take additional costs into account, such as those associated with hygiene needs, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4183
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2020 answer text <p>The current review of the level of the cash allowances began with the publication of the latest Family Spending data by the Office of National Statistics on 19 March, as that data is one of the main sources of information used to assess the appropriate level of the allowances. The review also takes account of research into the actual costs of purchasing essential items and whether Covid 19 has impacted on these costs.</p><p> </p><p>The outcome of the review will be published in due course.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 27/05/2020 15:38:49 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1195232

	registered interest
	date	12/05/2020
	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 plans they have to increase the level of asylum support in line with the COVID-19 related uplift for Universal Credit.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4235
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2020 answer text <p>We are currently reviewing the level of the cash allowances, as we do each year, to ensure that they remain capable of meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers. The level of the cash allowances is not linked to Universal Credit.</p><p>Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those in the asylum system who are affected by the covid-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the situation closely and are making adjustments to our processes and procedures where necessary and appropriate</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 27/05/2020 15:25:56 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins