Commentary on Sections Part 3: Other Support and Assistance Section 48: Young asylum-seeker
128.Section 48(a) provides a power for the Secretary of State to make payments to local authorities under section 110 of the 1999 Act to reimburse them for the support they have provided for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASCs). The Secretary of State already makes these payments but requires a special grant report under the Local Government Finance Act 1988. The definition of asylum-seeker in section 94(1) of the 1999 Act excludes those who are under the age of 18 and, therefore, payments under section 110 of the 1999 Act cannot currently be made in respect of those who are under the age of 18. Section 48 will enable payments under section 110 to be made in respect of asylum-seekers that are under the age of 18. The new power does not affect the amounts to be paid to local authorities or the requirements for auditing claims and ensuring payments only relate to those entitled. Section 48(b) provides a similar power for the Secretary of State to make payments to voluntary organisations under section 111 of the 1999 Act in respect of UASCs.