Asylum System Debate

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Department: Home Office

Asylum System

Baroness Coussins Excerpts
Monday 28th September 2020

(4 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Williams of Trafford Portrait Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)
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The noble Lord will appreciate that the past nine months have been unprecedented in terms of being able efficiently to deliver certain things, including the outcome of asylum cases. I do not have the exact figure to hand—I can get it for him—but I would imagine that that process has slowed, given the Covid-19 restrictions we have all been living under.

Baroness Coussins Portrait Baroness Coussins (CB)
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My Lords, why is the Home Secretary not willing to use the discretion she has to revert to the rates of financial support for asylum seekers which were abandoned in 2008, when support was set at 70% of income support levels for adults and 100% for children?

Baroness Williams of Trafford Portrait Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)
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I think the noble Baroness will know that, in discussion with the ONS and others, we have set that rate as the one we think appropriate.