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>
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>
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>
Retailer Name<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Value (£)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Tesco<\/p><\/td> 20,660,480.59<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Asda<\/p><\/td> 11,373,929.59<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Sainsbury's<\/p><\/td> 5,935,535.81<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Morrisons<\/p><\/td> 2,528,626.86<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Boots<\/p><\/td> 2,478,849.23<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Peacock Group<\/p><\/td> 333,709.46<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Co-operative Group Food<\/p><\/td> 250,074.03<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Food City Halal Market<\/p><\/td> 202,813.59<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Mothercare<\/p><\/td> 39,947.70<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Iceland Foods<\/p><\/td> 38,311.88<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Midlands Co-operative<\/p><\/td> 22,172.05<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Salvation Army<\/p><\/td> 3,544.40<\/p><\/td><\/tr> British Red Cross<\/p><\/td> 3,380.32<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Masala Bazaar<\/p><\/td> 330.55<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Holland and Barrett<\/p><\/td> 326.68<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/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> 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> 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> 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> 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> 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> Retailer Name<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Value (£)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Tesco<\/p><\/td> 20,660,480.59<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Asda<\/p><\/td> 11,373,929.59<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Sainsbury's<\/p><\/td> 5,935,535.81<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Morrisons<\/p><\/td> 2,528,626.86<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Boots<\/p><\/td> 2,478,849.23<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Peacock Group<\/p><\/td> 333,709.46<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Co-operative Group Food<\/p><\/td> 250,074.03<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Food City Halal Market<\/p><\/td> 202,813.59<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Mothercare<\/p><\/td> 39,947.70<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Iceland Foods<\/p><\/td> 38,311.88<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Midlands Co-operative<\/p><\/td> 22,172.05<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Salvation Army<\/p><\/td> 3,544.40<\/p><\/td><\/tr> British Red Cross<\/p><\/td> 3,380.32<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Masala Bazaar<\/p><\/td> 330.55<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Holland and Barrett<\/p><\/td> 326.68<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/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> 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> 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> 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> 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> 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> Retailer Name<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Value (£)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Tesco<\/p><\/td> 20,660,480.59<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Asda<\/p><\/td> 11,373,929.59<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Sainsbury's<\/p><\/td> 5,935,535.81<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Morrisons<\/p><\/td> 2,528,626.86<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Boots<\/p><\/td> 2,478,849.23<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Peacock Group<\/p><\/td> 333,709.46<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Co-operative Group Food<\/p><\/td> 250,074.03<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Food City Halal Market<\/p><\/td> 202,813.59<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Mothercare<\/p><\/td> 39,947.70<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Iceland Foods<\/p><\/td> 38,311.88<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Midlands Co-operative<\/p><\/td> 22,172.05<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Salvation Army<\/p><\/td> 3,544.40<\/p><\/td><\/tr> British Red Cross<\/p><\/td> 3,380.32<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Masala Bazaar<\/p><\/td> 330.55<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Holland and Barrett<\/p><\/td> 326.68<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/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> 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> 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> The information requested is shown in the following table:<\/p> <\/p> Length of time people have been on Section 4 support<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Period on support<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Number of People<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 6 to 12 months<\/p><\/td> 684<\/p><\/td> 1 year to 5 years<\/p><\/td> 3013<\/p><\/td> 5 years or more<\/p><\/td> 698<\/p><\/td> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-18T15:22:06.71Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Asylum: Finance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s 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.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3691", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Roberts of Llandudno"}
], "uin" : "HL2457"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/101002", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/101002/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " 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> 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> 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> Retailer Name<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Value (£)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Tesco<\/p><\/td> 20,660,480.59<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Asda<\/p><\/td> 11,373,929.59<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Sainsbury's<\/p><\/td> 5,935,535.81<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Morrisons<\/p><\/td> 2,528,626.86<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Boots<\/p><\/td> 2,478,849.23<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Peacock Group<\/p><\/td> 333,709.46<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Co-operative Group Food<\/p><\/td> 250,074.03<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Food City Halal Market<\/p><\/td> 202,813.59<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Mothercare<\/p><\/td> 39,947.70<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Iceland Foods<\/p><\/td> 38,311.88<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Midlands Co-operative<\/p><\/td> 22,172.05<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Salvation Army<\/p><\/td> 3,544.40<\/p><\/td><\/tr> British Red Cross<\/p><\/td> 3,380.32<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Masala Bazaar<\/p><\/td> 330.55<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Holland and Barrett<\/p><\/td> 326.68<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/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> 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> 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> 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> 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> 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> 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\u2019s views on section 4 support was set out on page 18-19.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL2277"}
, {"_value" : "HL2278"}
, {"_value" : "HL2279"}
, {"_value" : "HL2281"}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Asylum: Finance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their forecast annual cost for administering the Azure card payment scheme in the coming year.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3691", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Roberts of Llandudno"}
], "uin" : "HL2280"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100075", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100075/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " 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> 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> 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> 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\u2019s views on section 4 support was set out on page 18-19.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL2277"}
, {"_value" : "HL2278"}
, {"_value" : "HL2279"}
, {"_value" : "HL2280"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-28T15:17:56.2935035Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Asylum: Finance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s 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 Asylum<\/i> (7th Report of session 2013\u201314, HC 71).", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3691", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Roberts of Llandudno"}
], "uin" : "HL2281"}
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