Asylum Support

Sarah Teather (Brent Central) (LD)
22.  When she expects to announce the asylum support rates for 2013-14.

The Minister for Immigration (Mr Mark Harper)
There are no current plans to change the asylum support rates, but we do of course keep the matter under constant review.

Sarah Teather
The Minister’s Department has not made a decision on the asylum support rates in this financial year. He has therefore frozen the rates by default, without coming to the House to announce that decision. I understand from an announcement made  in another place that a review is ongoing, but does he accept that kicking the matter into the long grass for a further year simply will not do?

Mr Harper
I said in my answer that we keep the matter under review. There is no statutory provision to make an annual uprating, but we keep this under review and look at the figures. I have listened carefully to what the hon. Lady has said and I will consider the matter.