To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the asylum support budget was in each of the last five years; and what it is projected to be in each of the next five years. (242778)

[holding answer 16 December 2008]: Expenditure on asylum support in the four years from 2004-05 to 2007-08 was as follows:

Budgeted expenditure for 2008-09 is £452 million. UKBA is currently reviewing plans and forecasts for future years and we are unable to provide information about budgets for these periods until plans have been finalised and agreed by the UKBA Board.