Asylum Seekers Hotels 2026-02-09
2026-02-09
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Asylum accommodation has been a contentious issue with high numbers reported.
How many asylum seekers were accommodated in hotels on 30 September 2025 and 30 June 2024?
In June 2024, there were 29,561 asylum seekers in hotels. By September 2025, that number had reduced to 36,273. The next release of statistics will be at the end of this month.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
There is a discrepancy between the pledge made by the party to reduce numbers and the actual increase.
What further action is being taken to reduce the number of individuals in migrant hotels? Can he guarantee that there will be no new migrant hotels?
The reduction from 54,000 to 36,000 asylum seekers in accommodation indicates progress. We will not open new hotels but will use large sites which are opposed by the Opposition Front Bench.
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Assessment & feedback
guarantee against opening new hotels
Opposing Views From Other Benches
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns have been raised about a specific hotel in Solihull.
Can he provide some clarity on when the George hotel will close?
The George hotel will be closed, but no specific date is given in the Chamber. The closure is part of a commitment to end asylum hotels opened by Conservatives and close them under Labour.
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Assessment & feedback
specific date for closing the George hotel
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
There is a need for better engagement and information sharing with local authorities.
Will the Minister reassure constituents that local communities will be fully informed and respected?
There is a commitment to work more closely with local authorities, ensuring they have information about HMOs and populations that need support.
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Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Costs per asylum seeker have risen significantly under the previous government.
What steps are being taken to drive down public money spent on hotel accommodation?
We have already reduced costs by a third and aim for zero spending. Conversations with suppliers are ongoing, focusing on the break clause and ending contracts in 2029 to achieve better financial outcomes.
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Assessment & feedback
specific measures to drive down costs
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Q6
Direct Answer
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Context
Asylum hotel accommodation is viewed as a legacy issue.
What steps are being taken to close asylum hotels?
We have restarted decision making, increased returns and opened new military sites. We will shut every single one by the end of this Parliament.
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Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the controversy surrounding the proposed use of Inverness barracks for asylum seekers in Scotland, highlighting concerns about community tensions and the need to close existing asylum hotels.
The Tories' asylum hotels have divided communities and endangered vulnerable people in communities such as Falkirk, but we must be honest: the Inverness barracks proposal is controversial, and will aggravate community tensions in Scotland rather than cool them if there is no corresponding urgent move to close asylum hotels in Scotland. Will the Secretary of State join me this month in visiting Kemper Avenue to see at first hand why the Cladhan must now be fairly prioritised for closure in the hotel exit plan?
There are no easy options having inherited a broken asylum system and in which there are asylum hotels, which were opened by the Conservative party, in operation across the whole of the country. We believe that large military sites are a better way of reducing the burden felt by communities across the country, including in Scotland. I reassure my hon. Friend that, by the end of this Parliament, we will get out of every single asylum hotel, including in his constituency.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary did not commit to visiting Kemper Avenue with the questioner as requested.
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
The Home Secretary previously stated efforts to speed up the processing of asylum claims, but the question challenges whether this is sufficient and suggests faster processing could aid in closing asylum hotels.
In her response, the Home Secretary noted the speeding-up of processing times, but I wonder whether enough is being done on that. Surely, making sure that asylum seekers are processed as fast as possible is the route to closing the hotels.
Asylum claims are being processed at the fastest rate for 20 years, so we are moving very quickly to deal with those claims. As I am sure the hon. Lady knows, though, many of those people go on to appeal, and there is a backlog at the court. That is why we will be reforming our appeals system in legislation later this year.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary did not address whether more needs to be done to speed up processing times beyond the current rate.
Response accuracy