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Asylum-seeking Children: Hotel Accommodation
07 June 2023
Lead MP
Deidre Brock
Edinburgh North and Leith
SNP
Responding Minister
Robert Jenrick
Tags
Migrants & BordersEconomyEmploymentSafeguarding & DBSForeign Affairs
Word Count: 9718
Other Contributors: 9
At a Glance
Deidre Brock raised concerns about asylum-seeking children: hotel accommodation in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Home Office needs to provide up-to-date figures on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children placed in hotels since July 2021, as requested by the Children's Commissioner for England. The UK Government must commit to publishing a written report on missing children from Home Office hotels and take immediate steps to prevent similar issues from happening again.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
I spoke to organisations that support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and found them completely bewildered and terrified upon arrival in the UK. Some have experienced physical violence, persecution, torture, human rights abuses, and extreme poverty. The Home Office houses these children in hotels on a short-term basis but does not provide adequate protection as required by law under section 20 of the Children Act 1989. Over 4,600 unaccompanied children have been placed in such accommodation since the Home Office took charge of their care two years ago, with no exit strategy from this practice. The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration found staff at some hotels without Disclosure and Barring Service checks, leading to hundreds of missing children. An open letter by over 100 charities and UN experts called for an end to accommodating separated children in hotels due to the risks of abuse and neglect.
Alison Thewliss
SNP
Glasgow Central
Expressed concern over the Home Office's responsibility to locate missing asylum-seeking children in hotel accommodation. Quoted statistics of 440 missing episodes and 186 children still unaccounted for as of April 2023. Criticised the Illegal Migration Bill for undermining legal obligations on devolved Administrations, preventing proper care for these children. Asked the Minister to give way on a point during Stephen Kinnock's speech.
Caroline Lucas
Green
Brighton, Pavilion
She is concerned about the Home Office's practice of using hotels to house unaccompanied children seeking safety in the UK. Since July 2021, there have been 447 missing episodes and 186 children are still missing according to figures revealed in a parliamentary question. She raised concerns about the lack of legal basis for this practice and urged the Minister to commit to a full consultation with local authorities on all aspects of the scheme.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon expressed a moral obligation to help displaced individuals, especially women and children who are oppressed or in danger. He highlighted that 4,500 unaccompanied migrant children were placed in hotels since June 2021, with 440 missing as of April 2023. Shannon was concerned about the increase in potential child victims from 5,028 to 5,468 and stressed that children in hotels should receive adequate protection similar to looked-after children.
Noted a specific issue in Carmarthenshire where a hotel will be used for housing asylum seekers without consultation with the local authority or Welsh Government, questioning the UK Government's unilateral action.
Nia Griffith
Lab
Llanelli
Congratulated the hon. Lady for obtaining the debate and questioned the Home Office's interaction with the devolved Scottish Government and local authorities in Scotland, finding its approach disappointing and unresponsive to devolution. Asked if unaccompanied children would be housed at Stradey Park Hotel in her constituency and what measures would prevent them from going missing.
Olivia Blake
Lab
Sheffield Hallam
Ms Blake raised concerns about the 440 missing asylum-seeking children and the safety of those who have not been found. She questioned whether the Home Office had followed proper protocols in handling these cases, and asked for a report on lessons learned and steps to prevent future disappearances. Additionally, she criticised the accommodation of unaccompanied minors in hotels since 2021, stating that this practice should be reconsidered under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. Ms Blake also highlighted issues with local authority involvement and the high costs associated with placements for these children.
Stephen Kinnock
Lab
Aberavon
Labour has proposed a five-point plan to address the asylum system's chaos, including scrapping the Rwanda scheme and forming agreements with France for returning asylum seekers. Concerns were raised about changes in January regarding short-term holding facilities, especially for women and children fleeing sexual violence.
Tahir Ali
Lab
Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
Mr Tahir Ali expressed outrage over the more than 400 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who have gone missing from Home Office hotels since July 2021. He criticised the government for failing to address this issue adequately, highlighting that 200 of these children were still reported as missing in January, with no clear indication of improvement. He called for an urgent intervention and collaboration among departments to ensure the safety of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
Tulip Siddiq
Lab
Hampstead and Highgate
Asked about the 186 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who were still missing from Home Office-run hotels in January, highlighting the failure to safeguard vulnerable young people.
Government Response
Robert Jenrick
Government Response
I regretted giving way to frivolous interventions and reiterated that we care about young people's safety. I urged MPs to see the dangers of small boat crossings, highlighting risks from smugglers and traffickers. The Illegal Migration Bill aims to end this trade to focus on resettlement schemes for those in conflict zones directly.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.