Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the report from Refugee Action, entitled Slipping through the gaps, published in July 2017, for what reasons her Department is not meeting targets for section 95 and section 98 support for asylum seekers; and if she will make a statement.
The Home Office has discussed the report with Refugee Action and will continue this dialogue as we examine the detailed findings. We take complaints about performance failures seriously and we have robust procedures in place to inspect, investigate and resolve issues when specific information is received.
Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can apply for free accommodation and cash support to cover their essential living needs. If they have an emergency need for accommodation they can ask to be put in initial accommodation whilst their applications are being processed and the vast majority of such requests are processed on the same day.