Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the effect of the No Recourse to Public Funds condition on (a) rough sleeping levels and (b) transmission of covid-19 in the next six months; and if she will make a statement.

The Government remains committed to protecting vulnerable people and has acted decisively to ensure that we support everyone through this pandemic. During this time the Home Office has continued to work closely with Public Health Officials, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and local authorities.

The Government has introduced a range of measures to ensure people can stay safe and many of these such as the Coronavirus Job retention scheme, and self-employment income support scheme are available for those with a no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition. Contribution-based benefits are also not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Testing and treatment for Covid-19 is also free of charge to all regardless of immigration status.

We have also launched the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme in England, which provides a £500 payment to people on low incomes who cannot work from home and have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. Support is also available for those who are not in receipt of one of the seven means-tested benefits that are part of the eligibility criteria for the main scheme, but who will still face hardship if they have to self-isolate, in the form of a £500 discretionary payment, paid by local authorities. This payment is available to those with NRPF, provided they meet the criteria set by the local authority for discretionary payments in their area. Further information on this scheme can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme-claiming-financial-support/claiming-financial-support-under-the-test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme

The Government has provided an unprecedented £7.2 billion of package of support to councils to help their communities through this pandemic, which includes their work to support rough sleepers. This includes £4.6 billion in un-ringfenced funding, £1.1 billion from the Infection Control Fund, £300 million to support Test and Trace as well as funding allocated to councils from the new Local Alert Level system and a number of grants to support communities and vulnerable people.

Migrants with leave under the Family and Human Rights routes can apply to have their NRPF condition lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application if they are destitute or at risk of destitution, if the welfare of their child is at risk due to their low income Since the onset of the pandemic, we have continued to prioritise NRPF ‘change of conditions’ applications and deal with them compassionately.

In light of?all the support that is?currently?available for?people in the UK, including those with an NRPF condition, we have no plans?to temporarily suspend NRPF.