Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Asylum Seekers: Hotels

Monday 9 February 2026 · 8 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • In June 2024, there were 29,561 asylum seekers in hotels. By September 2025, that number had increased to 36,273.
  • The government plans to reduce the number of asylum seekers in hotels by using large sites instead of opening new hotels.
  • The George hotel will be closed, but no specific date was provided in the Chamber.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Neil Shastri-Hurst Con Solihull West and Shirley
Asylum & Refugees
Context

Asylum accommodation has been a contentious issue with high numbers reported.

Question

How many asylum seekers were accommodated in hotels on 30 September 2025 and 30 June 2024?

Answer from Alex Norris

In June 2024, there were 29,561 asylum seekers in hotels. By September 2025, that number had reduced to 36,273. The next release of statistics will be at the end of this month.

Answered
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Q2 Charlie Dewhirst Con Bridlington and The Wolds
Asylum & Refugees
Context

There is a discrepancy between the pledge made by the party to reduce numbers and the actual increase.

Question

What further action is being taken to reduce the number of individuals in migrant hotels? Can he guarantee that there will be no new migrant hotels?

Answer from Alex Norris

The reduction from 54,000 to 36,000 asylum seekers in accommodation indicates progress. We will not open new hotels but will use large sites which are opposed by the Opposition Front Bench.

Partly answered

Not addressed: guarantee against opening new hotels

How: Opposing Views From Other Benches

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Q3 Neil Shastri-Hurst Con Solihull West and Shirley
Asylum & Refugees
Context

Concerns have been raised about a specific hotel in Solihull.

Question

Can he provide some clarity on when the George hotel will close?

Answer from Alex Norris

The George hotel will be closed, but no specific date is given in the Chamber. The closure is part of a commitment to end asylum hotels opened by Conservatives and close them under Labour.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific date for closing the George hotel

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Q4 Andrew Ranger Lab Wrexham
Asylum & Refugees
Context

There is a need for better engagement and information sharing with local authorities.

Question

Will the Minister reassure constituents that local communities will be fully informed and respected?

Answer from Alex Norris

There is a commitment to work more closely with local authorities, ensuring they have information about HMOs and populations that need support.

Answered
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Q5 Chris Murray Lab Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Asylum & Refugees
Context

Costs per asylum seeker have risen significantly under the previous government.

Question

What steps are being taken to drive down public money spent on hotel accommodation?

Answer from Alex Norris

We have already reduced costs by a third and aim for zero spending. Conversations with suppliers are ongoing, focusing on the break clause and ending contracts in 2029 to achieve better financial outcomes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific measures to drive down costs

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Q6 Euan Stainbank Lab
Asylum & Refugees
Context

Asylum hotel accommodation is viewed as a legacy issue.

Question

What steps are being taken to close asylum hotels?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

We have restarted decision making, increased returns and opened new military sites. We will shut every single one by the end of this Parliament.

Answered
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Q7 Euan Stainbank Lab
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The question addresses the controversy surrounding the proposed use of Inverness barracks for asylum seekers in Scotland, highlighting concerns about community tensions and the need to close existing asylum hotels.

Question

The Tories' asylum hotels have divided communities and endangered vulnerable people in communities such as Falkirk, but we must be honest: the Inverness barracks proposal is controversial, and will aggravate community tensions in Scotland rather than cool them if there is no corresponding urgent move to close asylum hotels in Scotland. Will the Secretary of State join me this month in visiting Kemper Avenue to see at first hand why the Cladhan must now be fairly prioritised for closure in the hotel exit plan?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

There are no easy options having inherited a broken asylum system and in which there are asylum hotels, which were opened by the Conservative party, in operation across the whole of the country. We believe that large military sites are a better way of reducing the burden felt by communities across the country, including in Scotland. I reassure my hon. Friend that, by the end of this Parliament, we will get out of every single asylum hotel, including in his constituency.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not commit to visiting Kemper Avenue with the questioner as requested.

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Q8 Alison Bennett Lib Dem
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The Home Secretary previously stated efforts to speed up the processing of asylum claims, but the question challenges whether this is sufficient and suggests faster processing could aid in closing asylum hotels.

Question

In her response, the Home Secretary noted the speeding-up of processing times, but I wonder whether enough is being done on that. Surely, making sure that asylum seekers are processed as fast as possible is the route to closing the hotels.

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

Asylum claims are being processed at the fastest rate for 20 years, so we are moving very quickly to deal with those claims. As I am sure the hon. Lady knows, though, many of those people go on to appeal, and there is a backlog at the court. That is why we will be reforming our appeals system in legislation later this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not address whether more needs to be done to speed up processing times beyond the current rate.

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