asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the debate on asylum seekers on 1 March, whether the cost arising in the current year to Kent County Council from unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, in excess of that provided for in central Government funding, was £1.7 million; and whether they propose to leave the council taxpayers of Kent to meet that cost. [HL1399]
Local authority circular LAC (2000)2 dated 10 February invited LAs to submit claims under the 1999–2000 Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children's Special Grant by 29 February. The proposed terms of the grant allowed authorities to claim up to a maximum of £400 per week for each child aged 15 years and under, and a maximum of £200 per week for each child aged 16 or 17, less any Housing Benefit in payment, based on actual expenditure incurred in the provision of accommodation for the child to 28 January 2000 and estimated expenditure to 31 March 2000. Subsequently, Directors of Social Services were advised that the 12 LAs which provided for the greatest number of UASCs would be able to claim up to an additional £100 per week per child. On this basis, Kent has claimed £7.35 million, and has been advised that the claim will be met in full. An externally commissioned report submitted by Kent County Council to the Department in December indicated that the total costs incurred by the Council in looking after unaccompanied asylum seeking children was £8.1 million in this financial year.It is a matter for Kent County Council to decide how to meet any costs outside the terms of the grant.