Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that asylum seekers housed in asylum accommodation have access to free and accessible community spaces to build social connections.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office contracted accommodation providers deliver induction briefings and information packs which include signposting to voluntary sector services alongside local leisure and recreational facilities and services, for all new arriving asylum seekers.

The AASC Requirements below give a detailed breakdown of the services to be undertaken by our accommodation providers and to the standards we expect:

http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2018-1112/AASC_-_Schedule_2_-_Statement_of_Requirements.pdf.

Additionally, all asylum seekers have access to a 24/7 Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help, where they can raise any concerns regarding accommodation or support services.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking steps to develop engagement forums with asylum seeker and refugee communities.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We regularly engage with stakeholders through standalone meetings and various forums such as the Asylum Strategic Engagement Group, which includes organisations who both speak for and represent asylum seekers.

The Asylum Lived Experience Advisory Panel (ALEAP) is a regular engagement forum, which enables refugees with recent lived experience of the UK asylum system an opportunity to discuss the impact of Home Office policies and processes across their asylum journey.

It is important that we distinguish between individuals who need protection and those seeking to work here who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what statistical evidence is held by the Home Office to support the claim made by former Home Secretary in the Daily Telegraph on 3 February that between 6 September 2022 and 13 November 2023, she “became aware of churches around the country facilitating industrial-scale bogus asylum claims”.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Every asylum claim is determined on its individual merits in line with our published policy and guidance. There are a small number of recent cases which have raised concerns that not all conversions are necessarily genuine and it is right we work with faith leaders to better understand these cases.

We are unable to comment further on the former Home Secretary’s remarks. She was reshuffled on 13^th November 2023.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in view of the expected growth in the supply of physician associates (PAs) to 10,000 by 2036–37 under the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, how many PAs are expected to work in each setting.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Physician Associates (PAs) currently work in over 40 specialties across primary, secondary, and community care, each determined by local needs and decisions. The largest proportion of the PA workforce works with doctors and other colleagues in primary care, followed by emergency and acute medicine. Other specialties include geriatrics, stroke, community, dermatology, and ear, nose, and throat. We have not made a central assessment of where we expect PAs to work in 2036/37. PAs' work must be undertaken within local clinical governance rules, and under the supervision or oversight of a senior doctor.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that there is clarity for patients about different roles within clinical teams in healthcare settings, including regarding anaesthesia and physician associates.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) and Physician Associates (PAs) are supervised by a designated senior doctor, in the role of a consultant, registrar, or general practitioner. The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan sets out plans to increase the PA workforce to 10,000 by 2036/37, and the AA workforce to 2,000 over the same period. The plan also calls for 60,000 more doctors, for a factor of five to one in favour of more doctors, which will contribute to the sustainable implementation of this multidisciplinary model and deliver increased capacity to supervise and support new associate staff.

NHS England is working with the relevant professional colleges and regulators to ensure the use of associate roles is expanded safely and effectively, and that they are appropriately supported, supervised, and integrated into multidisciplinary teams.

The introduction of regulation by the General Medical Council (GMC) will provide a standardised framework of governance and assurance for the clinical practice and professional conduct of AAs and PAs, and make it easier for employers, patients, and the public to understand the relationship between these roles and that of doctors.

As set out in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines, all healthcare professionals should introduce themselves and explain their role to the patient regardless of their job title. In addition, the GMC has published interim standards for AAs and PAs in advance of regulation which makes it clear that professionals should always introduce their role to patients, and set out their responsibilities in the team.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that NHS staff have sufficient capacity to supervise and support new associate staff.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) and Physician Associates (PAs) are supervised by a designated senior doctor, in the role of a consultant, registrar, or general practitioner. The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan sets out plans to increase the PA workforce to 10,000 by 2036/37, and the AA workforce to 2,000 over the same period. The plan also calls for 60,000 more doctors, for a factor of five to one in favour of more doctors, which will contribute to the sustainable implementation of this multidisciplinary model and deliver increased capacity to supervise and support new associate staff.

NHS England is working with the relevant professional colleges and regulators to ensure the use of associate roles is expanded safely and effectively, and that they are appropriately supported, supervised, and integrated into multidisciplinary teams.

The introduction of regulation by the General Medical Council (GMC) will provide a standardised framework of governance and assurance for the clinical practice and professional conduct of AAs and PAs, and make it easier for employers, patients, and the public to understand the relationship between these roles and that of doctors.

As set out in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines, all healthcare professionals should introduce themselves and explain their role to the patient regardless of their job title. In addition, the GMC has published interim standards for AAs and PAs in advance of regulation which makes it clear that professionals should always introduce their role to patients, and set out their responsibilities in the team.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication of their rough sleeping statistics on 29 February which showed a 965.91 per cent increase from July to December 2023 in people sleeping rough after leaving asylum support over the previous 85 days, what consideration they have given to extending the move-on period from 28 days to 56 days for refugees leaving asylum support; and what assessment they have made of the impact this extension would have on homelessness.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Second Permanent Secretary and I recently met with the Bishop of London to discuss the Government support available to newly recognised refugees moving on from asylum accommodation.

Following the service of an asylum decision, an individual continues to be an asylum seeker for the purpose of asylum support until the end of the relevant prescribed period set out in legislation. This period is 28 calendar days from when an individual is notified of a decision to accept their asylum claim and grant them leave and we have no plans to extend this period. Whilst our legislative power is clear, we do in practice already extend support beyond this. Our current process means that individuals can remain on asylum support for at least 28 days after they have been issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which means that individuals have longer than 28 days to make arrangements to move on before their asylum support ends. It is important that individuals initiate plans to move on from asylum support as soon as they are served their asylum decision in order to maximise the time they have to make move on arrangements.

We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation.  This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.  Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible if they require them.

We continue to identify and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees during the move on period and to mitigate the risk of homelessness. We are fully committed to working with partners in doing this. We have already worked closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures.  We are also utilising Home Office Liaison Officers to replicate part of the Afghan resettlement move on process. We have been working in three local authority areas since December 2023; Glasgow, Brent and Hillingdon. This has now been expanded to Manchester and Liverpool.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with the third sector to jointly create a comprehensive and properly funded transition process for people whose asylum support is due to end, to enable information and support around housing and benefits to be given as far in advance as possible.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Second Permanent Secretary and I recently met with the Bishop of London to discuss the Government support available to newly recognised refugees moving on from asylum accommodation.

Following the service of an asylum decision, an individual continues to be an asylum seeker for the purpose of asylum support until the end of the relevant prescribed period set out in legislation. This period is 28 calendar days from when an individual is notified of a decision to accept their asylum claim and grant them leave and we have no plans to extend this period. Whilst our legislative power is clear, we do in practice already extend support beyond this. Our current process means that individuals can remain on asylum support for at least 28 days after they have been issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which means that individuals have longer than 28 days to make arrangements to move on before their asylum support ends. It is important that individuals initiate plans to move on from asylum support as soon as they are served their asylum decision in order to maximise the time they have to make move on arrangements.

We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation.  This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.  Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible if they require them.

We continue to identify and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees during the move on period and to mitigate the risk of homelessness. We are fully committed to working with partners in doing this. We have already worked closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures.  We are also utilising Home Office Liaison Officers to replicate part of the Afghan resettlement move on process. We have been working in three local authority areas since December 2023; Glasgow, Brent and Hillingdon. This has now been expanded to Manchester and Liverpool.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of staggering evictions of refugees from Home Office accommodation, particularly where the person is working with their local authority or a third sector organisation, to prevent their homelessness.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Second Permanent Secretary and I recently met with the Bishop of London to discuss the Government support available to newly recognised refugees moving on from asylum accommodation.

Following the service of an asylum decision, an individual continues to be an asylum seeker for the purpose of asylum support until the end of the relevant prescribed period set out in legislation. This period is 28 calendar days from when an individual is notified of a decision to accept their asylum claim and grant them leave and we have no plans to extend this period. Whilst our legislative power is clear, we do in practice already extend support beyond this. Our current process means that individuals can remain on asylum support for at least 28 days after they have been issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which means that individuals have longer than 28 days to make arrangements to move on before their asylum support ends. It is important that individuals initiate plans to move on from asylum support as soon as they are served their asylum decision in order to maximise the time they have to make move on arrangements.

We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation.  This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.  Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible if they require them.

We continue to identify and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees during the move on period and to mitigate the risk of homelessness. We are fully committed to working with partners in doing this. We have already worked closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures.  We are also utilising Home Office Liaison Officers to replicate part of the Afghan resettlement move on process. We have been working in three local authority areas since December 2023; Glasgow, Brent and Hillingdon. This has now been expanded to Manchester and Liverpool.

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Found: Shulbrede , Lord Green of Deddington , Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, Baroness Lawlor , Baroness Mobarik, Lord

Found: 2 I am copying this letter to Lord Scriven, Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate, Viscount Hailsham, The Lord