Oral answer to question provided on Monday, 21 January 2008 in the House of Lords, by Lord West of Spithead (Labour).

Refugees: Loans

Answer: My Lords, the noble Lord is absolutely right: this was a very good scheme, debated in the House, and we expected a much higher rate of take-up. This has been accelerating since last June, when the scheme initially came in. So far we have had 562 applications, of which 198—that is, 35 per cent—have received a loan. A number are awaiting receipt of signed loan agreements. It is not quite clear why there has not been bigger take-up, because this is very useful in enabling those who, almost by definition, are disadvantaged to integrate into our society.

This is an answer to the Oral question asked on Monday, 21 January 2008 by Lord James of Blackheath (Conservative).

Question: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that response, but does he not share a little of my disappointment at the apparent lack of take-up of this facility? It struck me at the time as one of the most enlightened and intelligent pieces of regulation put through by this Government. It shone out like a good deed in a naughty world. I hoped it would have had a much bigger take-up than we have seen. What percentage of the number of applications received might that figure be, assuming that they have all taken £1,000 per head, which was allowed? How many have been declined?

Secondary information