Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Asylum Accommodation: Northern Ireland

Monday 22 March 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Home Office officials meet weekly with the Northern Ireland Strategic Migration Partnership to discuss asylum accommodation.
  • Home Office also holds formal monthly meetings with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Belfast City Council on asylum accommodation.
  • The Minister expressed disappointment with the tone of a question regarding the lack of specialist services for asylum seekers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Claire Hanna Social Democratic & Labour Party Belfast South and Mid Down
Asylum & Refugees Northern Ireland
Context

Discussions on the provision of asylum accommodation are ongoing, with concerns over parity in specialist services for asylum seekers.

Question

What recent discussions has her Department had with the Northern Ireland Executive on asylum accommodation in Northern Ireland?

Answer from Kevin Foster

Home Office officials meet weekly with the Northern Ireland Strategic Migration Partnership to discuss intake, accommodation and other operational matters relating to asylum accommodation. That is supplemented by formal monthly meetings with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Belfast City Council, the voluntary and communities sector, public health colleagues and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Answered
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Q2 Claire Hanna Social Democratic & Labour Party Belfast South and Mid Down
Asylum & Refugees Northern Ireland
Context

There are concerns about the lack of parity in specialist services such as trauma counselling and legal advice for asylum seekers. Additionally, there is criticism over the introduction of punitive policies.

Question

Asylum seekers in Northern Ireland are disadvantaged by a lack of parity in specialist services such as trauma counselling and legal advice, but instead of plugging these gaps, this Secretary of State seems obsessed with introducing ever more punitive and dehumanising policies in her approach to dealing with people fleeing persecution. We have seen the outworkings of offshore processing in Australia, which cost lives and hundreds of millions of pounds; it was a human rights disaster. Will the Minister take the opportunity to confirm that the Department is not pursuing plans to use third countries as dumping grounds? Will the Government instead commit to establishing safe and legal routes, and housing with dignity those who need asylum in the UK?

Answer from Kevin Foster

It is disappointing to hear the tone of the hon. Lady's question, given that the Belfast City Council area is the only part of Northern Ireland to act as a dispersal area. Securing suitable accommodation relies on local communities taking part. Perhaps she may wish to reflect on what more action could be taken by councils where the Social Democratic and Labour party has a presence to match her words.

Not addressed: Specific commitments or confirmations about third country plans and safe routes for asylum seekers were not provided.

How: Changing The Subject, Criticising Tone

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