Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the explanatory note on the Asylum Support (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2015, on what basis it was concluded that those Regulations would have no impact on the voluntary sector.

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. The most recent review showed that the asylum support payments provided to larger household groups comfortably exceeded what is necessary to meet essential living needs. Despite the planned reduction in the rate, the payments are still sufficient to meet those needs. There should therefore be no impact on the voluntary sector.