Asylum Seeker Accommodation 2025-10-29
2025-10-29
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Welsh Labour Government is criticized for not prioritizing issues that would make a real difference to the people of Wales, such as lowering NHS waiting times and improving standards. The nation of sanctuary policy is believed to support services for illegal immigrants.
What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the adequacy of accommodation for asylum seekers in Wales? Under the Welsh Labour Government, waiting lists, educational standards and opportunities for young people have all ground to an abrupt halt. It is therefore shocking that the Welsh Labour Government are not prioritising issues that would make a real difference to the people of Wales. Instead, Labour Ministers, supported by Plaid Cymru, are ploughing tens of millions of pounds into their nation of sanctuary policy, which is believed to support services for some illegal immigrants. Does the hon. Lady agree that it is high time her colleagues scrapped this wasteful, non-devolved policy and instead focused their time on lowering NHS waiting times and improving standards?
We inherited a broken asylum system in absolute chaos from the Tories, with tens of thousands stuck in a system dependent on expensive asylum hotels. We are committed to ending the use of hotels as asylum accommodation as soon as possible and before the end of this Parliament, as part of a controlled, managed and orderly programme.
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Assessment & feedback
Specifically avoided addressing scrapping the nation of sanctuary policy or focusing on NHS waiting times and educational standards.
We Inherited A Broken System From The Tories
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The hon. Member criticized the Welsh Labour Government's focus on asylum seekers and suggested that some people in Caerphilly have become experts about the constituency without visiting it.
I associate myself with the remarks of the leader of Plaid Cymru in paying tribute to Hefin David, my friend and colleague. He was an amazing representative for Wales and a real warrior for those who are neurodivergent or find themselves on the margins of society. I am delighted that Caerphilly is so popular today. It seems that so many people who have either only visited several times, or not visited at all and have only read about it in the press, have become experts about my constituency. I am also pleased that the Minister has raised the plight of Ukrainians who came to Wales to seek sanctuary, running from war, because if there was one downside to the by-election, it was the talk of asylum seekers being bad people—that they are all illegal and that they do not contribute anything. Those who said such things should see the exhibition that was on at Caerphilly council and see what asylum seekers have contributed. What message does the Minister have for those Ukrainians who are still seeking asylum in Wales?
We offer sanctuary for those who desperately need it, and we are proud of that, but we inherited contracts and a broken system from the Conservatives. Hotel use has nearly halved since the last election, and we have removed 30,000 people who have no right to be here, ensuring that those who do need to be here have the welcome and support that they need. It is not job done, but work in progress. We can compare that with the 14 years of the Tory Government.
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Assessment & feedback
Specifically avoided addressing a message for Ukrainian refugees directly, instead focused on inherited broken system from Conservatives and progress made.
We Inherited Contracts And A Broken System From The Conservatives
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The shadow Secretary of State criticized the Labour Government for overseeing record-breaking figures of illegal immigrants, particularly in north Wales. There is also talk about Penally military camp in south-west Wales.
After wantonly scrapping the Rwanda scheme, the Labour Government are now overseeing record-breaking figures of illegal immigrants. It is reported that the scandal is now engulfing north Wales, where more than 200 illegal immigrants have tried to gain entry to the country on ferries from Dublin to Holyhead. Meanwhile, there is talk about Penally military camp in south-west Wales, which was previously condemned by the Welsh Labour Government. It appears that their policy, along with Reform’s, is from boats to barracks, as is happening in Scotland and Sussex, yet Plaid says that there is no such thing as illegal immigration. Does the Minister agree that her Government and Plaid have no idea about and no interest in how to make our borders safe?
I fear that the Conservatives forget about the chaos that they created. We inherited a broken system after 14 years of chaos, and contracts that we have to honour, but in the past year we have halved the use of hotels. We have removed 30,000 people who have no right to be here. It is not job done, as I say, but it is a work in progress. We can compare that work in just one year with 14 years of chaos under the hon. Lady’s Government.
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Assessment & feedback
Specifically avoided addressing knowledge or interest in securing borders against illegal immigrants directly, instead focused on inherited broken system from Conservatives and progress made.
We Inherited A Broken System After 14 Years Of Chaos
Response accuracy