National Asylum Support Service
Encyclopedia
The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is a section of the UK Border Agency
(UKBA), which is itself a part of the Home Office
. It is responsible for supporting and accommodating people seeking asylum
while their cases are being dealt with.
NASS was created in April 2000 under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Previously, local authorities and the Department for Work and Pensions
(DWP) were responsible for the support and accommodation of asylum seekers. NASS presently has about 900 employees, about half at the NASS central office in Croydon
and the others in 11 regional offices.
NASS describes its role as part of the "6th aim" of the Home Office
:
"To regulate entry to, and settlement in, the United Kingdom effectively in the interests of sustainable growth and social inclusion. To provide an efficient and effective work permit system to meet economic and skills requirements, and fair, fast and effective programmes for dealing with visitors, citizenship and long term immigration applicants and those seeking refugee or asylum. To facilitate travel by UK citizens."
NASS provides certain types of support to people seeking asylum during the time that their applications are under way, while not itself judging the asylum applications, which is a responsibility of other parts of the UKBA
. The support can be support for accommodation, subsistence costs or both.
Ministers who at present have responsibilities relating to NASS are:
UK Border Agency
The UK Border Agency is the border control body of the United Kingdom government and part of the Home Office. It was formed on 1 April 2008 by a merger of the Border and Immigration Agency , UKvisas and the Detection functions of HM Revenue and Customs...
(UKBA), which is itself a part of the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
. It is responsible for supporting and accommodating people seeking asylum
Right of asylum
Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...
while their cases are being dealt with.
NASS was created in April 2000 under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Previously, local authorities and the Department for Work and Pensions
Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is the largest government department in the United Kingdom, created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security and headed by the Secretary of State for Work and...
(DWP) were responsible for the support and accommodation of asylum seekers. NASS presently has about 900 employees, about half at the NASS central office in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
and the others in 11 regional offices.
NASS describes its role as part of the "6th aim" of the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
:
"To regulate entry to, and settlement in, the United Kingdom effectively in the interests of sustainable growth and social inclusion. To provide an efficient and effective work permit system to meet economic and skills requirements, and fair, fast and effective programmes for dealing with visitors, citizenship and long term immigration applicants and those seeking refugee or asylum. To facilitate travel by UK citizens."
NASS provides certain types of support to people seeking asylum during the time that their applications are under way, while not itself judging the asylum applications, which is a responsibility of other parts of the UKBA
UK Border Agency
The UK Border Agency is the border control body of the United Kingdom government and part of the Home Office. It was formed on 1 April 2008 by a merger of the Border and Immigration Agency , UKvisas and the Detection functions of HM Revenue and Customs...
. The support can be support for accommodation, subsistence costs or both.
Organisation
NASS has a Director (presently Jeremy Oppenheim) and divides its work into several different areas (present leader in parentheses):- Accommodation 2005 Programme and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Reform Projects (Brian Kinney)
- Commercial (Eric Davies)
- Operations (Hugh Ind)
- Resources and Planning (Paul Darling)
- Central Information and advice Unit (Susan Hadland).
Ministers who at present have responsibilities relating to NASS are:
- Theresa MayTheresa MayTheresa Mary May is a British Conservative politician who is Home Secretary in the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition government. She was elected to Parliament in 1997 as the Member of Parliament for Maidenhead, and served as the Chairman of the Conservative Party, 2003–04...
MP, Home Secretary - Damian GreenDamian GreenDamian Howard Green is a British politician who has been the Conservative Member of Parliament for Ashford since 1997. He came to national prominence after being elected in his constituency. Before standing for parliament, Damian Green was Channel 4's business editor...
MP, Minister for Immigration