Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to reverse the cut imposed with effect from August on asylum support, in the light of the fact that this has been frozen since 2011; and whether they will introduce special rates for children under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

There have been two recent changes to the level of the cash allowances provided to destitute asylum seekers to cover their essential living needs.

With effect from 6 April, the allowance provided to asylum seekers without dependants was raised to £36.95 per week (from £36.62).

Since 10 August a standard payment of £36.95 per week has been provided for each person in a family group (the asylum seeker and any dependants). This resulted in a reduction in the total allowance provided to asylum seekers with children. The change was made because a review of the support system showed that the allowances previously provided exceeded the amount necessary to cover essential living needs.

There are no plans to reverse either of these changes. The Government generally reviews the level of the allowances each year and plans to do so again in 2016.