The Immigration and Asylum (Provision of Services or Facilities) Regulations 2007

These Regulations may be cited as the Immigration and Asylum (Provision of Services or Facilities) Regulations 2007 and shall come into force on 31^st January 2008.

In these Regulations—

• “the 1999 Act” means the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;

• “ante-natal eligible period” means the period from eight weeks before the expected date of birth to the date of birth;

• “child” means an individual who is less than 18 years old;

• “destitute” is to be construed in accordance with section 95(3) of the 1999 Act2;

• “full birth certificate” means a birth certificate issued in the United Kingdom, which specifies the names of the child’s parents;

• “immigration officer” means a person appointed as an immigration officer under paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 19713;

• “maternity payment” means a payment of £250 made by the Secretary of State to a person supported under section 954 or section 98 of the 1999 Act to help with the costs arising from the birth of a child;

• “mother” means a woman who is a supported person and who has provided evidence to satisfy the Secretary of State that she has given birth to a child;

• “post-natal eligible period” means the period from the date of the birth to six weeks after the birth;

• “pregnant woman” means a woman who is a supported person who has provided evidence to satisfy the Secretary of State that she is pregnant;

• “provider” means a person providing facilities for the accommodation of persons by arrangement with the Secretary of State under section 4 of the 1999 Act5;

• “qualified person” has the same meaning as in section 84(2) of the 1999 Act6;

• “qualifying journey” means where—

  1. a

     a single journey of a distance of not less than three miles; or

  2. b

     where there is a specified need, a single journey of a distance of less than three miles;

• “specified need” means where—

  1. a

     the supported person is unable or virtually unable to walk a distance of up to three miles by reason of a physical impediment or for some other reason; or

  2. b

     the supported person has one or more child dependants—

     1. i

        aged under five; or

     2. ii

        who are unable or virtually unable to walk a distance of up to three miles by reason of a physical impediment or for some other reason;

• “supported person” means a person who is being provided with accommodation under section 4 of the 1999 Act and who is destitute; and

• “voluntary sector partner” means an organisation funded by the Secretary of State to deliver aspects of asylum support services.

The Secretary of State may arrange for the provision to a supported person of his child’s full birth certificate.

Until the sixteenth birthday of a child who is a supported person, on application, the Secretary of State may supply, or arrange for the supply of, vouchers redeemable for clothing to the value of £5 per week to him.