SOCIAL services chiefs are to hold urgent talks with Government officials over fears that Kent could be asked to meet more of the costs of looking after asylum seekers.

Social services chief Peter Gilroy said the system by which Kent County Council was reimbursed for the costs of coping with asylum seekers was placing the authority at "grave risk."

It is understood KCC has warned the Government that changes to the grant regime could have an adverse impact on the amount of money Kent is currently able to claim back.

One effect of the changes is that authorities like Kent will not receive as much to look after unaccompanied minors once they reach the age of 16.

Mr Gilroy told a meeting of KCC's cabinet: "If you are in a place like Kent with various ports, you face particular challenges. The rules on grants do put authorities like this at grave risk. It is serious not just for us but all authorities."

The amount of money Kent could lose out on has not been publicly disclosed. But it is known to be a cause of mounting concern because the changes in the rules are likely to apply retrospectively, affecting KCC's budget both this year and next.

From April 2000, adult asylum seekers have been the responsibility of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) which meets the bulk of their costs and disperses arrivals to various parts of the country.

In Kent's case, the authority reclaims around £50million a year.

County council Conservative leader Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart said it was important Kent knew where it stood and stressed that the asylum issue was a national responsibility.

"We need to be quite clear that the funding is there for us from central Government," he said.

The impact of asylum seekers on Kent's finances is being compounded by uncertainty over a High Court judgement which could leave social services authorities having to look after unaccompanied minors until they are 24.

Previously, KCC's responsibility for unaccompanied minors ended when they reached the age of 18.