Written question asked by Caroline Spelman (Conservative) on Monday, 21 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 April 2005. It was answered by Anne McGuire (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 April 2005 on behalf of the Scotland Office.

Scotland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the payments and grants made by the Government to each local authority in Scotland to reimburse the costs of supporting asylum seekers in each year from 1996-97 to the establishment of the Scottish Executive.

Answer: Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the payments and grants made by the Government to each local authority in Scotland to reimburse the costs of supporting asylum seekers in each year from 1996-97 to the establishment of the Scottish Executive. [217878] Mrs. McGuire: Immediately prior to 1 April 1999, the budget for support of asylum seekers was split between the then Department of Social Security and the Department of Health. The Department of Social Security was responsible for supporting applicants who made their application at a port of entry until such times as an initial decision was recorded on the claim for asylum. The Department of Health picked up the costs of supporting those claiming asylum after entry and also appellants (including those who made their original application on arrival). The budget for adult and family asylum seekers transferred to the Home Office on 1 April 1999. The budget for unaccompanied asylum seeking children transferred to the Home Office on 1 April 2000. For information on the costs to the Government in relation to asylum seekers prior to 1999-2000, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 May 2000, 349 Official Report, column 331W by the then Home Secretary. The figures contained in the answer are global, and cover the entire of the UK. They cannot be broken down further into areas.

Secondary information