Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Rachael Maskell Excerpts
Monday 27th November 2023

(5 months, 2 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robert Jenrick Portrait Robert Jenrick
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My right hon. Friend and I have discussed this many times, and I want to ensure that that particular hotel is closed as quickly as possible, because it is having such an impact on her local community. The Home Office is working with her local authority, and we have made a commitment that we will not place further young people, or families with young people, in that hotel if school places are not readily available. However, I hope that the hotel itself will close very soon.

Rachael Maskell Portrait Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)
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When asylum seekers requiring medical care are moved to a new location out of area, they go to the bottom of the waiting list, and as a result their health requirements are not met in a timely way. How will the Minister ensure that they do not slip back from receiving medical care that they urgently require?

Robert Jenrick Portrait Robert Jenrick
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When moving asylum seekers from one form of accommodation to another, we make provision to ensure that there is support for those with the most serious medical conditions, but it is important that we are able to move individuals around the estate, and we are currently in the process of closing hotels. That is our No. 1 priority, because the public want us to close them as quickly as possible.