Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Asylum Seekers: Hotel Accommodation

Monday 22 November 2021 · 6 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK Government plans to end the use of hotel accommodation for asylum seekers.
  • Home Secretary cites the pandemic as a factor in the slowing of asylum processing.
  • Local authorities, particularly in Scotland, have not fully cooperated with dispersal accommodation schemes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Esther McVey Con Tatton
Asylum & Refugees
Context

Residents of Tatton are concerned about the ongoing nature of supposedly temporary accommodation for immigrants who arrive in the local area. Some hotels have become full-time immigration centres, causing issues within town centres.

Question

Residents of Tatton are concerned about the ongoing nature of supposedly temporary accommodation for immigrants who arrive in the local area. Some hotels are becoming full-time immigration centres and those residing there are in limbo in our town centres. What is the timescale for processing these individuals and for reverting the accommodation back into hotels?

Answer from Priti Patel

Through changes linked to the new plan for immigration, we will end the use of hotel accommodation for asylum seekers. This was a short-term solution during the pandemic, and the new plan includes long-term changes in the offing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline not provided

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Esther McVey Con Tatton
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The share of applications that received an initial decision within six months fell from 87% in 2014 to just 20% in 2019.

Question

One big reason why we need to use hotels is that the asylum processing system has basically imploded. The share of applications that received an initial decision within six months fell from 87% in 2014 to just 20% in 2019. What is the Home Secretary's explanation for that?

Answer from Priti Patel

There are a number of factors in terms of why there has been slowing down in the processing of asylum claims. Because of the covid pandemic last year, decisions were not made and accommodation policies changed based on Public Health England guidance. The new plan for immigration includes digitalisation of the system to improve processing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific timeline or measures provided

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Asylum & Refugees
Context

Asylum seekers receive £39.63 per person for food, clothing and toiletries.

Question

Asylum seekers are given somewhere to live while their application is being processed along with £39.63 per person. Why does the state continue to provide accommodation and money even after asylum applications have been refused?

Answer from Priti Patel

Changes will come forth that will end this practice, as outlined in the new plan for immigration and the Nationality and Borders Bill.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures or timeline not provided

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q4 Philip Davies Con
Asylum & Refugees
Context

Local authorities are not notified about the placement of asylum seekers in hotels.

Question

We agree that hotel use should end but we need to go back to community dispersal. Why is the Home Office still placing large numbers of asylum seekers in unsuitable hotels without notifying local authorities?

Answer from Priti Patel

Local authorities, particularly in Scotland, have not played their part in helping with dispersal accommodation. The Scottish Government has done nothing to support this policy.

Not addressed: Question about Home Office practices avoided by blaming local authorities

How: Blaming Other Entities

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q5 Stuart McDonald SNP
Asylum & Refugees
Context

Home Office planning to build large-scale warehousing for asylum seekers.

Question

Will the Home Office seek local authority permission for building these centres in the middle of people's local authorities?

Answer from Priti Patel

We on the Conservative side will take no lectures on bypassing democracy or local councils. Out of 32 in Scotland, only one local authority has participated in the dispersal scheme.

Not addressed: Question about Home Office practices avoided by blaming local authorities

How: Blaming Other Entities

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q6 Stuart McDonald SNP
Asylum & Refugees Local Government
Context

Local authorities are not playing their part in supporting dispersal accommodation.

Question

Will the Home Office confirm that it will seek local authority permission for building these centres, or is it planning to bypass local democracy?

Answer from Priti Patel

The Home Office has been doing everything possible to provide financial support and assistance for local authorities, but certain councils still say no.

Not addressed: Question about building centres avoided by focusing on funding issues

How: Blaming Other Entities

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)