Dear Sir or Madam,

It concerns me greatly that the Home Office, appear not to
recognise persons and their needs, who are described as 'destitute'
within the United Kingdom, while appealing a decision to refuse
Asylum.

I am abhorred that many people in this situation, receive very
little or no support from statutory bodies and that the Home Office
actively obstructs any efforts to obtain support for them.

(1) I would like statistics on the number of persons within the
past 3 years who would fit this description of 'destitution',

(2) Details of the policy within the Home Office to deal with this
situation,

(3) Information to clarify what persons who are destitute, are
supposed to do, to keep themselves alive and well, while waiting on
a decision on their appeals etc.

I look forward to this reply.

Yours faithfully,

Dear Lord Robert McDowall

Thank you for your recent e-mail. Your request is being dealt with under
the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and we will respond
shortly.

Regards

UKBA

FOI Team

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Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.

Dear Sir

Thank you for your e-mail of 4 June 2008 where you have requested
information on destitute persons appealing an asylum decision. This falls
to be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The information that you have asked for is already accessible to you as it
is already in the public domain, I will answer your questions in turn.

1. I would like statistics on the number of persons within the past 3 years
who would fit this description of 'destitution'.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) do not collate statistics on destitute asylum
seekers. Support in the form of accommodation and or subsistence may be
provided to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. Statistics on
the number of asylum seekers supported over the past three years can be
found on the following website:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigra...

2. Details of the policy within the Home Office to deal with this situation.

Information on UKBA's asylum support policy can be found on the following
website: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/asylum...

3. Information to clarify what persons who are destitute, are supposed to
do, to keep themselves alive and well, while waiting on a decision on their
appeals etc.

If an applicant believes that they are destitute, they should first approach
a one stop service provider or a voluntary sector organisation for help and
advice on the support they are entitled to. They can also contact their
UKBA Case Owner. Information on the one stop service can be found on the
following website:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/asylum...

Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act absolves UKBA as part of the
Home Office from any duty that it would otherwise have to supply you with
this information on the grounds that it is already in the public domain.
However, should you have any difficulties in accessing this information
through the means listed above please do not hesitate to contact me again
quoting the reference number supplied above.

If you are dissatisfied with this response, you may request an independent
internal review of our handling of your request by submitting your complaint
to:

Head of Information Access Team
11th Floor
Lunar House
Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR9 2BY

During the independent review the independent review of the department's
handling of your information request will be reassessed by staff who were
not involved in providing you with this response. Should you remain
dissatisfied after this internal review, you will have a right of complaint
to the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom
of Information Act.

Yours sincerely

A Piper
UK Border Agency

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