Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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The MP is concerned about an asylum hotel in his constituency and the lack of clear progress on its closure. He references previous statements made by the Prime Minister regarding evidence of hotel closures soon.
This is my ninth question about the asylum hotel in my constituency, and I am still waiting for a clear answer. The Prime Minister said yesterday that we would see “evidence” of hotels being closed soon, but plans to move asylum seekers into new council housing would solve nothing and be an insult to millions on the waiting list. My constituents want the asylum hotel in my constituency of Broxbourne closed immediately. Will the Minister meet me to explain how and when this asylum hotel will close?
The hon. Gentleman knows—I am sure he remembers with a degree of pain from the general election—the commitment we made to close the hotels. Of course, the vast majority of them were opened by Opposition colleagues. We will close those hotels within this Parliament. Colleagues will always want specific dates, but it is right that we bring these things forward when we are ready and able to do so. I am of course happy to meet him.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific date for the closure of the asylum hotel in Broxbourne
Colleagues Will Always Want Specific Dates, But It Is Right That We Bring These Things Forward When We Are Ready And Able To Do So.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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The MP asks about the plans to move asylum seekers to Cameron barracks in Inverness.
Bliadhna mhath ùr—happy new year to you, Mr Speaker. Will the Minister update the House on Cameron barracks in Inverness and plans to move some asylum seekers to that town?
As has been said from this Dispatch Box by myself and the Home Secretary, we are looking at ex-military sites, of which my hon. Friend names one. We are doing all the feasibility assessments there and at Crowborough training camp. When we have made that final decision, we will announce that in the right way, but this approach has to be the right one.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific announcement date for the feasibility assessments
When We Have Made That Final Decision, We Will Announce That In The Right Way
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP proposes an initiative to provide proper information about the conditions in refugees' homelands to combat misinformation.
Those protesting at hotels are usually there because they have been served misinformation and far-right political rhetoric by those with sinister political agendas. One way we found to tackle that is to give proper information—tell the stories of what drove people to this country and the real conditions in their homelands. Will the Minister consider doing a similar type of initiative to dampen down some of the misinformation and terrible political rhetoric that we get at these asylum hotels?
I have absolutely no truck with those who seek to exploit the vulnerabilities of others for their own ends. I know my country; I know my city of Nottingham—when the system is ordered and controlled, our communities step up to meet the moment and provide shelter for people who need it.
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Assessment & feedback
Consideration for an initiative to combat misinformation
I Know My Country; I Know My City Of Nottingham—When The System Is Ordered And Controlled, Our Communities Step Up To Meet The Moment And Provide Shelter For People Who Need It
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Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the Cresta Court hotel being used to house asylum seekers for over a year.
The Cresta Court hotel in my constituency has been used to house asylum seekers for just over a year. That is bad for the taxpayer, bad for my community and bad for those going through the system. As I have said to the Minister on many occasions, the Cresta—like all hotels housing asylum seekers—must be returned to normal use as soon as possible. As we seek to build a fair, safe and just immigration and asylum system out of the wreckage left to us by those on the Opposition Benches, could he provide an update on the Government’s work to make that happen?
I know my hon. Friend’s constituency well and of where he speaks. We are clear that that hotel and all hotels being used for this purpose must shut. I know colleagues will want information as soon as possible. They may not have to wait too much longer, but it is right that we do this in an orderly and controlled way to ensure that the system works.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline for shutting down hotels housing asylum seekers
They May Not Have To Wait Too Much Longer, But It Is Right That We Do This In An Orderly And Controlled Way
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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The MP questions the benefit of moving asylum seekers to Crowborough training camp.
Happy new year, Mr Speaker. I am not surprised that the Home Office thought that Wealden, a Green and Lib Dem-run council, would be a soft target to move asylum seekers to, considering that the co-leaders previously seemed more concerned with Calais than they did about Crowborough, but moving asylum seekers into Crowborough training camp in Madam Deputy Speaker’s neighbouring constituency will displace the cadets who are making good use of that facility and, as I understand it, will not save any money. Given that it will not save any money, what is the benefit of moving asylum seekers there?
The hon. Gentleman knows that this is not purely a financial arrangement. We know that hotels have a profound social and economic impact on communities in this country. We believe that big military sites are better places to house asylum seekers.
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Assessment & feedback
Financial benefits of using Crowborough training camp
The Hon. Gentleman Knows That This Is Not Purely A Financial Arrangement
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP has visited an asylum hotel in his constituency and discusses the impact on both asylum seekers and the community.
I recently visited an asylum hotel in my constituency and have spoken separately with people living there and in the community surrounding the hotel. It is clear that ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers is in the best interests of not only asylum seekers, but the neighbouring community and the taxpayer. The Minister and I have had many conversations about this. Can he confirm when the Government will begin ending the use of asylum hotels in Bournemouth?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. I can assure his constituents and hon. and right hon. colleagues that he persists with me on this issue on virtually a daily basis, including over the Christmas period, which was very welcome indeed. I could not be clearer: we do not want to see hotels in Bournemouth used for this purpose.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline for ending the use of asylum hotels in Bournemouth
I Could Not Be Clearer: We Do Not Want To See Hotels In Bournemouth Used For This Purpose
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP questions the effectiveness of moving asylum seekers into council housing.
Happy new year to you, Mr Speaker. It is all well and good closing these asylum hotels, but they have to go somewhere else. The latest madcap idea that we hear from the Labour Benches is to build council houses for illegal migrants crossing the channel. Does the Minister think that will help to smash the gangs?
I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman should spend less time reading newspapers and more time listening to what is said in this Chamber. He will have heard from me and from my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary through our asylum policy statement about the most significant change to our asylum system in a generation—certainly in my lifetime.
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Assessment & feedback
Effectiveness of moving asylum seekers into council housing
He Will Have Heard From Me And From My Right Hon. Friend The Home Secretary Through Our Asylum Policy Statement
Response accuracy
Q8
Direct Answer
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Families living near an asylum hotel in Gloucester are facing issues such as increased antisocial behaviour, constant protests at their front door, and YouTubers attempting to get reactions from residents late at night. These families did not plan for the presence of a hotel when they moved into their homes.
A happy new year to you and your team, Mr Speaker. I welcome the Minister’s commitment to closing the Tory asylum hotel in Gloucester by the end of this Parliament. I have raised with him in the past the plight of families who live next door to that hotel, who are having to deal with an increase in antisocial behaviour, constant protests at their front door, and YouTubers turning up and trying to get a vox-pop reaction at 11 o’clock at night. What support can we give to those families, who are having to deal with a hotel on their doorstep that they did not plan for when they moved in?
We are very mindful that, whatever the nature of the supported accommodation, it should tread as lightly as possible on the community and on its neighbours. I would say to my hon. Friend that we are standing up capacity within the Home Office to make sure that local police are sharing information, and that we are sharing information with local police, about possible vulnerabilities, particularly in some of the cases he is talking about. If he is able to share that information with us, we can make sure that local authorities and local police, alongside the national Government, are supporting the community to the fullest degree possible.
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Q9
Partial Answer
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The most recent figures indicate that the number of illegal immigrants in asylum hotels has increased under the current government. In 2024, 41,000 illegal immigrants crossed the channel, representing a 40% increase from 2023. The Prime Minister admitted in a letter to President Macron that the Government lacks a deterrent to stop these crossings.
Happy new year, Mr Speaker. The Minister keeps saying that he intends to end the use of asylum hotels, but the most recent figures show that there are now more illegal immigrants in asylum hotels under this Government than there were at the time of the election. The numbers are going up: 41,000 illegal immigrants crossed the channel last year, a 40% increase on 2023. Does the Minister agree with the Prime Minister’s admission in an astonishing letter to President Macron that this Government have no deterrent to stop these crossings? Is it not the truth that this Government have no control of illegal immigration and the only way to stop the crossings is to leave the European convention on human rights and deport anyone arriving here illegally within a week?
The right hon. Gentleman was, I remember, sat right there in that seat—well, the Leader of the Opposition had moved him down one—to hear my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary talk about building this country’s deterrent factor. He was there because he was opposing our Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, which passed only in the last few days of the previous year. It is part of our deterrent—he knows that, because he opposed it. The idea that we should instead leave international agreements, which would mean all our returns agreements would need to be entered into again, is, I am afraid, for the birds. We are getting on with serious action; the Conservatives are just getting on with their press releases.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not directly address whether he agrees with the Prime Minister's admission or the suggestion to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.
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