Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to commission an independent review of support rates paid to asylum applicants under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 before making changes to that level of support.

Asylum seekers who are destitute are provided with accommodation and a cash allowance to cover their essential living needs. The level of the allowance is kept under regular review. If they are recognised as refugees they are able to claim mainstream benefits in the normal way.

The Government currently has no plans to establish an independent review of these arrangements.