Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2021 to Question 725 on asylum: housing, how the budget for weekly support payment for an asylum seeker is calculated; and how much is expected to be allocated to (a) food, (b) transport, (c) clothing and (d) cleaning products.

The level of the cash allowance provided to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute in order to meet their essential living needs (the legal test) is reviewed annually, using a methodology in place since 2014 and which has been judged by the Court of Appeal to be rational and lawful.

The basic approach is to determine all essential needs and assess the amount of money the average asylum seeker needs to meet each of them. Those with needs over and above the level of the average person can apply for additional funds exceptionally.

Further detail about the methodology can be found in the reports published at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-cash-allowance-paid-to-asylum-seekers