Asylum Seekers

Mr. John Marshall
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many asylum seekers who have appealed against a refusal of asylum are in receipt of income support. [37163]

Mr. Roger Evans
The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Marshall
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the annual cost of social security and housing benefits paid to asylum seekers; and how many have been in receipt of those benefits in each of the last three years. [37417]

Mr. Evans
The latest estimate of the annual amount of income support and housing benefit paid to asylum seekers is £200 million. Numbers of asylum seekers receiving income support are shown in the table: ----------------
|Income support|
----------------
|May 19931     |
----------------
|May 19941     |
----------------

Note:

1 Includes an estimated 1–2 thousand cases of former asylum seekers who are now entitled to Income Support under the normal rules.

Source

Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiries May 1993 and May 1994.

Claims from asylum seekers were not identified separately before May 1993.

Information about other benefits paid to asylum seekers and the numbers receiving them is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.