VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Legal Aid Scheme: Asylum

Asked by Lee AndersonReform UKMinistry of JusticeTabled Answered 1 April 2025UIN 40616

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total cost was of providing legal aid to asylum seekers in the last year.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones

Expenditure data for asylum seekers across all legal aid schemes is not held centrally.

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) does, however, publish information regarding legal aid expenditure as part of its official statistics on a quarterly basis, including the cost of legal aid provided in respect of asylum matters funded as Controlled Work. That information can be found at column G of table 5.3. Controlled Work covers the provision of legal advice regarding asylum matters and representation before the First Tier (Immigration and Asylum) Tribunal. The LAA also publishes information about the cost of Legal Representation pertaining to immigration and asylum matters (see tables 6.5 and 6.7).

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim