Written question asked by Lord Judd (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Neville-Jones (Conservative) on Monday, 14 February 2011.

Refugee Agencies: Funding

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they are cutting their grants to the Refugee Council and other refugee agencies; and what assessment they have made of the implications for the well-being of refugees and their integration into British society.

Answer: Voluntary sector grants for providing advice to supported asylum seekers will be reduced from April 2011. Since 2005, numbers of supported asylum seekers have fallen by over 50 per cent but levels of grant have not been reduced significantly in this period. Refugees enjoy access to the job market, housing and other benefits in line with UK nationals. Our expectation is that some of the grant for advice services still available beyond April can be used to advise new refugees on these mainstream services.

Secondary information