“The starting point, insofar as meeting your client’s essential needs is concerned, is that the support to which your client is entitled in accordance with our policy, equates to 72% of the rates of current income support (which is considered to be sufficient for subsistence) less any income received in respect of child benefits (see regulation 6.1 of the 1999 Regulations). Ms Gjini receives this in part as a cash payment (or, more specifically, as a cheque which she can then convert to cash) and in part as other benefits, which include clothing grants and various benefits for families with school-going children, such as children’s transport to and from school, and lunches. In addition, she, like other asylum seekers, is not responsible for gas or electricity payments, whereas persons receiving income support in the usual sense would be making such payments. This support package is set out at the bottom of page 1 of the 1996 policy in the section reading ‘Children/Families...School Uniform’. Your client is aware of all this information. In summary, Ms Gjini is entitled to receive from this authority as a cash payment, 72% of the current income support rates less the child benefit payable less the value of the other above-mentioned benefits.”
“16. It is submitted that in failing to provide details of the origin of the policy upon which it states to rely in assessing the subsistence it provides the Applicant, the Borough of Islington has acted unreasonably in the Wednesbury sense. It is further submitted that there is nothing within the relevant legislation setting out that asylum claimants should receive 72% of the level of income support and that as a result the Respondent has acted unlawfully in deciding upon such a percentage and figure. It is further submitted that if the Respondent maintains that its policy is to pay£3 per day to asylum claimants who form part of a family group then such a policy is irrational in particular given that a single adult over the age of 26 receives£6 per day and that in any event such amounts do not amount to 72% of the current level of income support. It is further submitted that if the policy that asylum seekers should receive 72% of the current income support levels is lawful then the Respondent has and continues to act unreasonably as it is not following its own policy in respect of the Applicant. 17. It is respectfully submitted that the Applicant should be granted a quashing order quashing the decision of the Borough of Islington dated17th May 2000 reducing the amount of subsistence paid to the Applicant by£15 , a mandatory order requiring the Borough of Islington to review and assess the Applicant’s needs properly, and a mandatory order requiring the Borough of Islington to provide the Applicant with details of the origin of the policy upon which the Borough relies and whereby the Borough provides a subsistence of£3 per person per day. It is further submitted that the Applicant should be granted a Declaration that the policy of the Borough of Islington is ultra vires or alternatively irrational or that in the event that the policy is found to be lawful and rational a mandatory order that the Applicant receives 72% of the current level of income support for her and her dependant son and any other order or relief that the Court thinks fit.”
“23. The policy of paying 72% of income support level is not peculiar to Islington. To my knowledge it is a policy which is used by many other London authorities. The rational behind this policy is that whereas income support levels provide a helpful guide to average subsistence levels a deduction has to be made to reflect the number of fringe benefits which asylum-seekers enjoy but which are not available to those on income support e.g. the payment of all their utility bills. If the authority did not make such a deduction it would mean that destitute asylum-seekers would receive more than those on income support. 24. At any rate should the Claimant subsequently be granted leave to remain she may claim back from the Department of Health the difference between income support rates and the amount received in cash from the local 25. I do not accept that the package Islington is providing does not equate to at least 72% of the relevant income support rate. As I say the Claimant is receiving a range of fringe benefits the most expensive of which (from Islington’s point of view) being payment of the utility bills. These bills will obviously increase with the onset of winter. In my respectful view of these, combined with clothing and other benefits to which I have referred make up at least 72% of what the Claimant would receive had she been eligible for income support.”