Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the numbers of asylum seekers who have (1) self-harmed, (2) attempted suicide, or (3) died by suicide, who are currently either living or lived in initial and dispersed asylum accommodation provided by the Home Office via contracts.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Home Office operates a Safeguarding Hub to support vulnerable individuals. Both the Home Office and its accommodation providers have robust processes in place to ensure that where someone is at risk, they are referred to the appropriate statutory agencies of police, NHS, and social services to promote appropriate safeguarding interventions.
As well as making safeguarding referrals to the appropriate statutory agencies other actions include attendance at child/adult protection meetings with police and social workers and liaising with both external and internal partners to share information. The statutory agencies retain responsibility for all decisions on intervention activity.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to reduce the risk of self-harm amongst asylum seekers living in initial and dispersed asylum accommodation provided by the Home Office via contracts.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Home Office operates a Safeguarding Hub to support vulnerable individuals. Both the Home Office and its accommodation providers have robust processes in place to ensure that where someone is at risk, they are referred to the appropriate statutory agencies of police, NHS, and social services to promote appropriate safeguarding interventions.
As well as making safeguarding referrals to the appropriate statutory agencies other actions include attendance at child/adult protection meetings with police and social workers and liaising with both external and internal partners to share information. The statutory agencies retain responsibility for all decisions on intervention activity.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that the food provided to asylum seekers living in initial and dispersed asylum accommodation provided by the Home Office via contracts (1) is adequate, (2) meets minimum quality standards, (3) meets basic nutritional needs, and (4) is culturally appropriate.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
Asylum seekers in initial accommodation are provided with three meals a day with a choice of at least one hot, one cold selection and a vegetarian option. Babies and small children are also provided with appropriate foodstuffs and can be fed whenever necessary. Options are provided for any asylum seeker with special dietary, cultural or religions requirements where specified. Food service meets appropriate nutritional standards and accommodation providers ensure that each varied menu is validated by a suitably qualified nutritionist or health professional as being appropriate.
Those in dispersal accommodation are provided with £47.39 per week, to meet essential living needs including food provision.
There are additional payments for pregnant women, children and babies as follows:
Extra payments | Pregnant mother | Baby under 1 | Child aged 1-3 |
Pregnancy payment (per week) | £3 | £5 | £3 |
|
|
|
|
| S95 Applicants | S4 applicants |
|
Maternity Payment (per month) | £300 | £250 |
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Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) adequacy, (2) quality, (3) nutritional content, and (4) cultural appropriateness, of the food being provided to asylum seekers living in initial and dispersed asylum accommodation provided by the Home Office via contracts.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
Asylum seekers in initial accommodation are provided with three meals a day with a choice of at least one hot, one cold selection and a vegetarian option. Babies and small children are also provided with appropriate foodstuffs and can be fed whenever necessary. Options are provided for any asylum seeker with special dietary, cultural or religions requirements where specified. Food service meets appropriate nutritional standards and accommodation providers ensure that each varied menu is validated by a suitably qualified nutritionist or health professional as being appropriate.
Those in dispersal accommodation are provided with £47.39 per week, to meet essential living needs including food provision.
There are additional payments for pregnant women, children and babies as follows:
Extra payments | Pregnant mother | Baby under 1 | Child aged 1-3 |
Pregnancy payment (per week) | £3 | £5 | £3 |
|
|
|
|
| S95 Applicants | S4 applicants |
|
Maternity Payment (per month) | £300 | £250 |
|