Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Asylum Hotels

Monday 26 February 2024 · 3 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Home Office has closed more than 64 hotels by the end of January as part of a temporary measure.
  • The Minister acknowledges representations about the Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury but has not provided further updates on its reversion to normal use.
  • The Minister stated that giving asylum seekers the right to work could undermine the legal migration system.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Daniel Kawczynski Con
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The use of hotels for accommodating destitute asylum seekers has been a point of concern due to an increase in small boat arrivals. Many hotels have been converted into temporary accommodation.

Question

What progress his Department has made on closing asylum hotels. The Home Office has used hotels as a short-term measure, but there is a need for more information on the closures and their impact.

Answer from Tom Pursglove

The Home Office has been clear that using hotels was a temporary measure. More than 64 hotels have closed by the end of January, and we are tracking ahead of profile when it comes to closing more hotels.

Answered
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Q2 Daniel Kawczynski Con
Immigration Housing
Context

Shrewsbury is known for its listed buildings and attracts tourism. The Lion Hotel, a prominent hotel in Shrewsbury, has been used to house illegal migrants.

Question

When will the Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury revert back to its normal use of housing tourists? We were given an assurance that it would be taken out of this use but have heard nothing further from the Minister or his Department.

Answer from Tom Pursglove

We are committed to closing hotels that house illegal migrants. We have been tracking ahead of profile in closures, and more people are accommodated outside hotels. The Minister acknowledges the representations about the hotel in Shrewsbury.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for a specific timeline on when the Lion Hotel will revert to its normal use but did not receive one.

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Q3 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The majority of asylum seekers in residential accommodation do not want to be there. Three quarters of them are likely to receive asylum.

Question

Does the Minister agree that part of the process should include looking at integration for those waiting for their hearing and decision? Given this, is it time to give asylum seekers the right to work?

Answer from Tom Pursglove

Such an approach would undermine our legal migration system. While we support people granted asylum to move on, including through work, it is important that applicants follow the rules and process properly.

Not addressed: The questioner asked about granting asylum seekers the right to work while their applications are processed, but the Minister deflected by focusing on maintaining a legal migration system.

How: Changing Subject, Focusing On Different Rules

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