Terror suspects 'claiming benefits'

Terror suspects under control orders in the UK have claimed hundreds of pounds in unemployment benefits, figures show.

A total of 22 out of 23 suspected terrorists under control orders who claimed up to £60.50 a week in Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) were successful, the Home Office figures showed.

Leading Tory MP Patrick Mercer said it was the equivalent of "pouring yet more taxpayers' money into a bottomless pit" but the Home Office said the terror suspects, who have not been charged with any crime, have the same rights to claim benefits as anyone else.

The information was released following a Freedom of Information request by the News of the World.

As of March 10, 17 individuals were subject to control orders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 and 40 others had at some time been subject to such an order, the newspaper's investigation found.

Of these, 23 applied for JSA benefits and 22 of them were successful.

One of the criteria for receiving such benefits is that the applicant shows he or she is "capable of working, available for work and actively seeking work", the Department for Work and Pensions said.

Mr Mercer, chairman of the Commons counter-terrorism sub-committee, told the newspaper:

"Surely this is nonsense if they are under control orders because they will not be seeking jobs. And all we're doing is pouring yet more taxpayers' money into a bottomless pit."

A Home Office spokesman said: "Controlled individuals, whilst being reasonably suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activity, have the same rights to benefits as any one else if they meet the relevant eligibility test for the relevant benefit.

"Individuals subject to control orders are not routinely prevented from taking employment or from receiving state benefits, including where appropriate Job Seekers Allowance, Housing Benefit and asylum support."

This is what is going to happen when the HNIC sets terrorists from Gitmo loose in the US. It is already being planned.