Asylum seekers, including dependants of asylum seekers, who are destitute are provided with accommodation and a cash allowance to cover their \u201cessential living needs\u201d - the legal test. The level of the allowance is kept under regular review.<\/p>
The most recent review showed that the asylum support payments provided to larger household groups comfortably exceeded what is necessary to meet their essential living needs.<\/p>
Along with accommodation, and free access to health care and education, the essential living needs covered by the asylum support rates are compatible with the UN Convention on the Rights of the child, and include nutrition, clothing and access to social, cultural and religious life.<\/p>
In conducting the review, due regard was given the Public Sector Equality Duty and the assessment was that the reduced payments were still sufficient to meet those needs. The statement also sets out the methodology used in the review. A copy of the statement was recently provided on request to the House of Commons library.<\/p>
The adequacy of the payment rates will be kept under review through the annual review cycle and in line with the statutory test to ensure that the right level of support is provided to asylum seekers and their families.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-23T16:29:20.54Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Asylum Support (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2015"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether, with regard to the Asylum Support (Amendment No. 3 Regulations) 2015, they plan to publish (1) their detailed assessment of the compatibility of the regulations with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; (2) the Public Sector Equality Duty statement; and (3) the detailed review methodology, as set out in the consultation letters.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4234", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Lister of Burtersett"} ], "uin" : "HL1713"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391953", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391953/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Her Majesty\u2019s Government does not comment on port specific deployment numbers. Border Force deployed additional resources to combat the increase in opportunistic migrant activity. The UK Immigration controls for the Dover \u2013 Calais, Dover \u2013 Dunkirk routes are located in Calais.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-23T15:46:06.95Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Immigration Officers: Port of Dover"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how many immigration officers were on duty on 21 July at the port of Dover; and what assessment they have made of whether that number was adequate.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Northbourne"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Northbourne"} ], "uin" : "HL1716"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391957", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391957/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We do not hold the data in a format which would allow us to answer the questions and we have estimated that to obtain the necessary information would incur disproportionate cost.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-23T15:45:51.743Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Visas: Overseas Students"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether they will list, for each of the last four calendar years, (1) each accredited United Kingdom higher education institution's visa refusal rate; (2) the number of students initially sponsored by each institution under Tier 4 who later went on to claim asylum in the United Kingdom; and (3) the number of students initially sponsored by each institution under Tier 4 who were later subject to enforcement action.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4175", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Stevenson of Balmacara"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Stevenson of Balmacara"} ], "uin" : "HL1720"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391965", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391965/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
No.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-23T16:23:49.937Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Unidentified Flying Objects"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether the Ministry of Defence currently outsources investigations into unidentified aerial phenomena to the private sector; and if so, which are the contracted agencies.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4171", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Black of Brentwood"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Black of Brentwood"} ], "uin" : "HL1728"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391983", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391983/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Secretary of State for Transport\u2019s direct powers in relation to Network Rail\u2019s Board are the rights to appoint or remove the Chair and the Special Director. Decisions on both of these posts were announced on 25 June and have taken effect.<\/p>
<\/p>
Other changes to Network Rail\u2019s Board are a matter for Network Rail in consultation with the Secretary of State. As it said in its Annual Report, Network Rail is currently in the process of recruiting a new Non-Executive Director with railway experience.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-23T16:26:10.49Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Network Rail"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what plans they have to make further changes at board level at Network Rail.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/319", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Snape"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Snape"} ], "uin" : "HL1746"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391989", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391989/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As part of the National Commissioning Nurse Leaders Network, NHS England holds an active database which has information about all 209 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and their senior commissioning nurses within those organisations.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
NHS England has informed the Department that all 209 CCGs are showing as having a registered governing body nurse as required in the legislation.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/127", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Prior of Brampton"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Prior of Brampton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL1753"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-23T15:46:41.33Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Clinical Commissioning Groups: Nurses"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what proportion of, and how many, clinical commissioning groups have qualified nurses in senior executive positions on their governing bodies.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/740", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Williams of Crosby"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Williams of Crosby"} ], "uin" : "HL1752"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391990", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391990/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As part of the National Commissioning Nurse Leaders Network, NHS England holds an active database which has information about all 209 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and their senior commissioning nurses within those organisations.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
NHS England has informed the Department that all 209 CCGs are showing as having a registered governing body nurse as required in the legislation.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/127", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Prior of Brampton"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Prior of Brampton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL1752"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-23T15:46:41.237Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Clinical Commissioning Groups: Nurses"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how many clinical commissioning groups have no nurses on their governing bodies.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/740", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Williams of Crosby"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Williams of Crosby"} ], "uin" : "HL1753"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391994", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391994/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As demonstrated by the various routes and services devolved to Transport for London (TfL) since 2007, the Department for Transport is committed to transferring services to local control where there is a business case for doing so.<\/p>
<\/p>
In May 2018, Heathrow Connect services are due to be transferred to TfL control in preparation for full operation of Crossrail.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-23T16:26:28.693Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Transport for London"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what plans they have to transfer more surface railways to Transport for London.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/621", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Moonie"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Moonie"} ], "uin" : "HL1757"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/392006", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/392006/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
One of the Secretary of State\u2019s earliest priorities has been to look closely at the way in which the Ministry of Justice, and specifically the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), deals with the threat from extremism and radicalisation in prisons and probation, and whether the response to that threat is effective. It is clear that the threat is evolving and increasing globally and it is crucial that the response, not just in my department but across government, rises to the growing challenge.<\/p>
<\/p>