Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Scotland of Asthal (Labour) on Wednesday, 13 December 2006.

Immigration: Emergency Relief

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:How many persons, at the most recent date, were receiving emergency relief for hard cases, under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 2006; and what is their best estimate of the number of failed asylum applicants who are either destitute or working illegally.

Answer: The number of failed asylum seekers in receipt of Section 4 support is published on a quarterly and annual basis. The latest publication covering the third quarter of 2006 is available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.htm. An estimate of the number of failed asylum applicants who are either destitute or working illegally is not available; those who seek to work in the UK illegally do not make themselves known to the authorities.

Secondary information