FOI/202600517193 · FOI · not held
Provision and funding for asylum support: FOI release
Information requested
1. Any current or planned policy changes regarding asylum seeker and refugee support in Scotland.
2. Any planned changes to funding for local councils or integration programmes for 2026/27 and beyond.
Response
Scotland has a long history of welcoming people of all nationalities and faiths - including those seeking refuge and asylum from war and persecution - and supporting their integration into our communities.
However, the provision and funding for asylum support across the UK is the responsibility of the Home Office. For more detailed information you may wish to contact the Home Office to find out whether there is any information which they would be able to provide. You can email their FOI team at foirequests@homeoffice.gov.uk
You may also find it useful to consult the UK Government website for information that the Home Office publishes online. The Home Office regularly publishes statistics relating to the UK immigration and asylum systems. These can be viewed on the UK Government website: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK
Question 1
Asylum is reserved to the UK Parliament and administered by the Home Office. This includes the provision of asylum accommodation and financial support. Decisions relating to any changes to asylum support policy are therefore a matter for the UK Government.
The Scottish Government does not hold information on current or planned changes to asylum support policy within devolved competence.
I would draw your attention to a consultation published by the UK Government has published entitled “Reforming asylum support and enforcing family returns”, which sets out proposed changes to asylum support arrangements. This document is publicly available. Under section 25(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, we are not required to provide information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant. The consultation can be accessed here:
UK Parliament deposited paper: Home Office consultation template Related UK Government policy statement: Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy (November 2025)
Refugees who have been granted status are not subject to asylum support arrangements and can access mainstream public services where they meet eligibility criteria. These services, such as social security and housing, are generally not designed specifically for refugees and are not recorded in a way that isolates support provided by immigration status.
People seeking asylum are subject to “No Recourse to Public Funds” (NRPF) restrictions set under UK immigration legislation. This limits access to certain forms of public assistance. The Scottish Government does not have the power to amend these conditions.
Scotland’s broader approach to supporting refugees and people seeking asylum to integrate into communities is set out in the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy. As at 19 May 2026, the Scottish Government does not hold information on any current or planned policy changes to this strategy.
In addition to this, the Scottish Government provides a Refugee Support Service through the Scottish Refugee Council that includes funding for various organizations offering advice, information and resources to help individuals fleeing war and persecution settle into their new home. As at 19 May 2026, the Scottish Government does not have any current or planned policy changes to this service.
More information on the Refugee Support Service can be found here: Funding support services - Asylum and refugees - gov.scot
Legislatively, SSI 2026/63 (The Education (Fees and Student Support) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026) was made on 5 February 2026 and has passed through the Scottish Parliament, coming into force on 1 August 2026. While not introducing wider policy changes on asylum or refugee support, it includes technical amendments affecting eligibility for education support for certain displaced persons, namely those under Afghan resettlement schemes. These amendments can be seen here: The Education (Fees and Student Support) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026
Question 2
I have interpreted your questions as meaning changes to funding for local councils or integration programmes for 2026/27 and beyond in relation to asylum seekers and refugees.
The Scottish Government does not hold information on any planned changes to funding for local authorities or integration programmes for 2026/27 and beyond. Under section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, we confirm that this information is not held.
In relation to funding for local authorities, the UK Government introduced an asylum grant to local authorities in 2022, allocated based on the distribution of asylum accommodation. This funding has been confirmed annually rather than as part of a multi-year settlement. The Scottish Government does not hold information on any current or planned changes to this funding, including for 2026/27 and beyond.
In relation to funding for integration programmes, as at 19 May 2026 the Scottish Government does not hold information on planned changes to funding associated with the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy for 2026/27 and beyond.
With respect to 2026/27 (the current financial year), the Scottish Budget was passed on 25 February 2026. The published version (dated 6 March 2026) is available at:
Scottish Budget 2026 to 2027 - gov.scot.
As of the date of this response, there have been no changes to the budget allocated to the relevant Directorate in terms of formal savings requirements for this ministerial portfolio.
For future years, the Scottish Government operates a single-year budgeting system, with budgets voted on annually by the Scottish Parliament. However, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance publishes spending reviews which provide a high-level forward look of indicative spending plans. The 2026 spending review, published on 13 January 2026, sets out indicative Resource spending plans through to 2028/29 and includes information on efficiency and reform priorities.
The spending review can be seen here: (Scottish Spending Review 2026 - gov.scot).
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Detected exemption language
Under section 25(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, we are not required to provide information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant. Under section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, we confirm that this information is not held.
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