Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Asylum Seekers: Hotels

Monday 24 February 2025 · 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tom Hayes raised concerns about significant taxpayer expenses from asylum hotels in Bournemouth East and delays in processing applications.
  • Simon Hoare questioned the government on how it would reduce costs for pensioners and farmers in North Dorset facing financial strain due to asylum hotels.
  • The government aims to reduce asylum hotel use by clearing backlogs of applications and increasing returns to the immigration system.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tom Hayes Lab Bournemouth East
Asylum & Refugees
Context

Asylum seekers are living in limbo due to high costs and delays. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council was written to expressing opposition to additional asylum hotels.

Question

Bournemouth East residents are experiencing significant taxpayer expenses from asylum hotels while facing delays in processing applications. I have communicated my concerns to the local council regarding further hotel use. Can you outline how resources were redirected post-election to expedite hotel closures and application processing, moving beyond Conservative governance's shortcomings?

Answer from The Minister for Border Security and Asylum (Dame Angela Eagle)

We aim to reduce asylum hotel use as part of our strategy to lower accommodation costs and restore order in the immigration system. Key actions include clearing the backlog of asylum applications and increasing returns, ensuring a more efficient process.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific resource reallocation details and timeline for reducing hotel usage were not provided.

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Q2 Simon Hoare Con North Dorset
Asylum & Refugees Benefits & Welfare
Context

Local pensioners and farmers are facing financial burdens due to high costs associated with asylum hotel usage.

Question

Pensioners and farmers in North Dorset face significant financial strain from the high cost of asylum hotels. Given that the current system is expensive, how will the government reduce these costs?

Answer from The Minister for Border Security and Asylum (Dame Angela Eagle)

We inherited a chaotic immigration system from the Conservatives. Our approach involves speeding up the process and ending backlogs, thus moving people out of hotels as part of our strategy to reduce asylum accommodation costs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures to reduce hotel costs were not detailed.

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