274.This section contains the key support power conferred on the Secretary of State, and in particular sets out whom he may support. It sets out the core tests that will be applied when considering applications for assistance under these provisions.
275.Subsection (1) provides that support may be provided for asylum seekers and their dependants who appear to the Secretary of State to be either destitute or who are likely to become destitute within a period to be prescribed in regulations; this latter provision will allow the Secretary of State to start making support arrangements in anticipation of destitution occurring. The power to provide support exists only so long as destitution (or the threat of it) exists; thus if someone assisted under these provisions ceases to be destitute, the Secretary of State will cease to be able to assist him. Support may either be provided by the Secretary of State (in practice the Home Office) directly, or under arrangements he makes with others who will provide support.
276.Subsection (2) provides for the making of regulations to exclude people from entitlement under prescribed circumstances; for example, asylum seekers who remain eligible for social security benefits because they are nationals of countries which are signatories to either the European Social Charter or the European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance.
277.Subsection (5) provides for regulations to be made setting out matters to be taken into account in determining the adequacy of accommodation for those asylum seekers who already have access to accommodation before applying to the Secretary of State for support. Subsection (6) sets out certain matters which may not be taken into account in determining whether accommodation is adequate for this purpose. No account may be taken of whether the asylum seeker has any right to occupy accommodation (eg whether or not he has a tenancy or is a licensee), or the fact that the accommodation is shared with others, that it is of a temporary character (eg a short stay hostel), or the area in which it is located. Subsections (7) and (8) provide for the Secretary of State to make secondary legislation specifying what kinds of items or expenses are, or are not, to be treated as essential living needs and identifying matters to which he may or may not have regard in considering whether these needs are met.
278.Subsections (9) to (11) provide that the Secretary of State may make the support subject to conditions which must be notified to the person in writing. These conditions could cover matters such as the behaviour of the applicant, his responsibilities as an occupier of property made available by the Secretary of State, or a requirement to live at the accommodation provided or (for those receiving assistance with living expenses only) for him to live at the address notified to the Home Office for the purpose of his asylum application. If a person is in breach of these conditions he could be evicted from the accommodation, and/or the support for living expenses ended. Subsections (12) and (13) are the enabling provisions giving effect to Schedules 8 and 9. Schedule 8 provides the Secretary of State with powers to make regulations governing the operation of the support scheme when Part VI comes into force, while Schedule 9 provides for support to be provided on an interim basis during a period from shortly after Royal Assent until the main Part VI arrangements come into operation.
Schedule 6: Registration Part VI: Support for asylum seekers Section 95: Persons for whom support may be provided