Shabana Mahmood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Shabana Mahmood on 2016-07-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the (a) appropriateness and (b) implications for safeguarding of children of private contractors using hotels to accommodate asylum seekers in Birmingham for periods of over 19 days.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Home Office takes its responsibility towards all asylum seekers in their care seriously, ensuring their welfare and safety is at the heart of every decision made.

The statement of requirements within the accommodation providers’ contract is clear: asylum seekers must be managed with sensitivity, treated in a polite and courteous manner and their safety and security is of absolute importance and must not be jeopardised.

These principles apply to all accommodated asylum seekers (including families with children) regardless of whether they are accommodated in more regular initial accommodation premises or contingency hotel accommodation.

As with all accommodation that is provided for asylum applicants, contingency accommodations are inspected to ensure that they are safe and fit for purpose.

Additionally the Home Office monitors the length of time all applicants spend in initial and contingency accommodation and works closely with its contracted providers to ensure that family applications are prioritised in recognition of the family’s needs and in accordance with our duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2009.