Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Contingency Asylum Accommodation

Monday 22 March 2021 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Catherine West inquired about the unhygienic conditions at Napier barracks and the risks posed to asylum seekers.
  • The Department responded that they expect high standards and have instructed providers to make improvements following the inspector's report.
  • The Minister noted the need to address the root causes of using contingency accommodation, such as fixing the asylum system.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The independent chief inspector of borders and immigration has inspected contingency asylum accommodation, raising concerns about conditions. Constituents have reported unhygienic conditions at Napier barracks, risking the spread of COVID-19.

Question

What steps is her Department taking to respond to the findings of the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration's inspection of contingency asylum accommodation? Many constituents have been in touch about the unhygienic conditions at Napier barracks, which risk spreading covid. I understand that the Home Secretary told the Select Committee that she had been following guidance, yet that seems to be the opposite of what Kent and Medway clinical commissioning group said.

Answer from Kevin Foster

During the pandemic, the number of accommodated asylum seekers has increased because we have not been able to move people on from accommodation and continuing claims. That means we have needed to secure contingency accommodation options, including two Ministry of Defence sites. We await the inspector's full report on contingency accommodation, which will lay in Parliament alongside the Department's response after his inspection is concluded. We expect the highest standards from our providers and have instructed them to make improvements following the interim report from the independent chief inspector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether barracks should be used as accommodation for asylum seekers, focusing instead on instructions given to providers.

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Q2 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Asylum & Refugees NHS
Context

The independent chief inspector of borders and immigration has inspected contingency asylum accommodation, revealing unhygienic conditions at Napier barracks which risk spreading the coronavirus. The Home Secretary's statements to the Select Committee contradict these findings.

Question

Many constituents have been in touch about the unhygienic conditions at Napier barracks, which risk spreading covid. I understand that the Home Secretary told the Select Committee that she had been following guidance, yet that seems to be the opposite of what Kent and Medway clinical commissioning group said.

Answer from Kevin Foster

We expect the highest standards from our providers and have instructed them to make improvements following the interim report from the independent chief inspector. In future, a core part of avoiding the pressures that result in the need for contingency accommodation will be fixing our broken asylum system, so that decisions are fair, prompt and firmer, and those whose claims are not genuine can be removed more easily.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether barracks should be used as accommodation for asylum seekers, focusing instead on instructions given to providers.

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Q3 Stuart McDonald SNP
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The independent chief inspector of borders and immigration's interim report revealed unhygienic conditions at Napier barracks, contradicting previous statements that dormitory accommodation was safe according to Public Health England advice.

Question

Ministers have claimed that the barracks are 'good enough for the armed services and they are certainly more than good enough for people…seeking asylum.'—[Official Report, 8 February 2021; Vol. 689, c. 10.] However, the report says that they are 'impoverished, run-down and unsuitable'. When will those statements be corrected?

Answer from Kevin Foster

I note the hon. Member's points, but I have already outlined that we expect the highest standards from providers and have instructed them to make improvements. A core part of being able to end the use of contingency accommodation in hotels and barracks is having more options and locations for dispersed accommodation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address why statements about Napier barracks were incorrect or reckless, focusing instead on needing more options for dispersed accommodation.

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Q4 Stuart McDonald SNP
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The independent chief inspector of borders and immigration's interim report revealed unhygienic conditions at Napier barracks, contradicting previous statements that dormitory accommodation was safe according to Public Health England advice.

Question

It is a blindingly obvious fact that whatever is done with dormitory accommodation will not protect against coronavirus. I agree that to fix asylum accommodation, local authorities must have the powers and the funding they need for the job.

Answer from Kevin Foster

We can see from the contribution Glasgow makes that a range of support is already available. As I say, we want to end the use of contingency accommodation. It is just that—contingency.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether local authorities will get the powers and funding they need for asylum accommodation improvements.

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Q5 Holly Lynch Lab
Asylum & Refugees NHS
Context

The independent chief inspector of borders and immigration's report stated that unhygienic conditions at Napier barracks virtually made a large-scale outbreak inevitable. The Kent and Medway clinical commissioning group confirmed poor hygiene practices and the presence of vulnerable individuals.

Question

In addition, the Kent and Medway clinical commissioning group inspection report on Napier confirmed that some communal areas were cleaned just once a week; that staff were expected to sleep three to a room; and that there were people with pre-existing vulnerabilities accommodated there. The public health advice never supported the use of dormitories.

Answer from Kevin Foster

As I have already outlined, we have instructed our providers to make improvements, and we want to reduce the use of contingency accommodation through fixing our broken asylum system. I am sure many will be interested to note the Labour party's sudden interest in, and enthusiasm for, securing improvements at Napier barracks now that they are no longer being used by our armed forces.

Not addressed: Did not address why Napier barracks is still open, instead questioning the motives of the Labour party.

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