PROPOSED ABOLITION OF SIX MONTHLY SINGLE ADDITIONAL PAYMENT TO ASYLUM SEEKERS

Early day motion 1220, tabled 18 May 2004 by Lynne Jones (Labour). Signed by 32 members.

That this House notes with deep concern the proposed abolition of the ú50 single additional payment (SAP) available every six months to asylum seekers provided by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS); notes that the level of support provided by NASS to asylum seekers, including support provided in kind, is equivalent to only 90 per cent. of the basic level of income support; further notes that, over a period of six months, a NASS supported single adult therefore receives at least ú144.82 less than a person in receipt of income support, and a NASS supported couple at least ú226.98 less than a couple in receipt of income support; recalls that, in June 1999, the provision in respect of NASS SAPs was introduced by the then Home Secretary to partially address this differential in support levels and thus help meet the cost of replacing essential items that had worn out, such as clothes, shoes and other essentials, where a person seeking asylum remained on NASS support for more than six months through no fault of their own; and calls on the Government to withdraw Regulation 4 of the Asylum Support (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1313), laid before this House on 13th May.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 2, Labour/Co-operative 1.