Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance, if any, they have given to (1) Kent County Council, and (2) other local authorities, to meet their statutory responsibilities to (a) asylum seekers, and (b) immigrants.

The Government has a statutory obligation to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation and other support whilst their application for asylum is being considered. Whilst there is no direct assistance to local authorities for asylum dispersal our accommodation providers pay council tax on the properties they procure for asylum accommodation.

For unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC), local authorities receive funding through the Local Government Finance Settlement for all ‘looked-after children’, and in addition the Home Office pays a ‘top up’ tariff directly to local authorities for UASC and former UASC care leavers.

As part of vital updates to the National Transfer Scheme, we announced more than £20m of new funding. The new tariff is £114 per UASC per day, rising to £143 if the local authority is over the 0.07% threshold, or accepts responsibility of a UASC from a higher rate receiving authority, and £270 per UASC care leaver per week. In addition, we have established a new exceptions cost fund of £3m, to support local authorities facing particular high costs for individual children. Further changes include a new national voluntary rota and increased support with age assessment.

We recognise the longstanding role that Kent County Council has played in supporting these vulnerable young people and are extremely grateful for their significant contribution. We have provided substantial operational support to Kent to help alleviate the significant pressures on their children’s services, caused by small boat arrivals on the south coast.

We do not provide accommodation or support for those in the UK illegally.