Asylum: Finance
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Aspen cards have been issued to asylum seekers since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Dame Angela Eagle
Aspen cards are issued only to the main applicants on claims for Asylum Support and can only be used for chip and pin payments. Asylum seekers are able to report any difficulties, including loss or theft of their Aspen card, by calling Migrant Help, available 24/7 by telephone, webchat or email.
The Home Office publishes regular information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, but the specific cost data requested is considered commercially sensitive, and its disclosure could undermine the ability of the Home Office to secure maximum value for money in future contract negotiations.
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