Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Section 19 permit exemptions for teachers driving pupils on school trips on safety; and whether she plans to review the training, qualification and safety requirements applicable to teachers operating vehicles under such permits.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Operating vehicles under Section 19 permits comes with important obligations. To support permit holders with their responsibilities, we publish guidance to promote and support the correct and safe use of vehicles operated under permits. The guidance explains that they must ensure that drivers are correctly trained, have the correct driving licence, and take adequate breaks.

There is also specific guidance for schools and local authorities on driving minibuses, which is published jointly with the Department of Education.

We are aware of calls for changes to minibus driver licensing arrangements and remain engaged on the issues with the Department for Education.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the continued use of a hotel that has been closed to the public since 2022 to accommodate asylum seekers on the economy of Tamworth town centre.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is clear that asylum hotels are not a sustainable solution and represent poor value for money. We are committed to ending their use and closing all such sites by the end of this Parliament.

Decisions on the use and closure of individual sites are informed by factors including operational feasibility, cost, community cohesion, and engagement with local authorities and statutory partners. As closures progress, sites will be prioritised on this basis and in line with the Government’s objective of reducing the number of people requiring asylum accommodation.

For safety, security and wellbeing reasons, we do not comment publicly on individual hotels that may or may not be used for asylum accommodation, nor do we publish a closure schedule. Once a hotel is confirmed for closure, the local authority Chief Executive, MP and statutory partners will be notified.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to end the use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers in Staffordshire; and what timetable has been set for the closure of remaining asylum hotels in the county.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is clear that asylum hotels are not a sustainable solution and represent poor value for money. We are committed to ending their use and closing all such sites by the end of this Parliament.

Decisions on the use and closure of individual sites are informed by factors including operational feasibility, cost, community cohesion, and engagement with local authorities and statutory partners. As closures progress, sites will be prioritised on this basis and in line with the Government’s objective of reducing the number of people requiring asylum accommodation.

For safety, security and wellbeing reasons, we do not comment publicly on individual hotels that may or may not be used for asylum accommodation, nor do we publish a closure schedule. Once a hotel is confirmed for closure, the local authority Chief Executive, MP and statutory partners will be notified.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of (a) the appropriateness of using hotels to accommodate asylum seekers in areas that experienced violent disorder during summer 2024, and (b) the potential impact on (i) community cohesion, (ii) public safety and (iii) local policing resources.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

This Government is clear that asylum hotels are not a sustainable solution and represent poor value for money. We are committed to ending their use and closing all such sites by the end of this Parliament.

The safety and welfare of asylum seekers and local communities is a priority. All asylum accommodation is carefully managed, supported by dedicated security arrangements and strong engagement with local policing and safeguarding partners. These partnerships help to mitigate risks and ensure proportionate action is taken to protect residents, staff, and local communities.

Decisions on the use and closure of individual sites are informed by factors including operational feasibility, cost, community cohesion, and engagement with local authorities and statutory partners. As closures progress, sites will be prioritised on this basis and in line with the Government’s objective of reducing the number of people requiring asylum accommodation.

For safety, security and wellbeing reasons, we do not comment publicly on individual hotels that may or may not be used for asylum accommodation, nor do we publish a closure schedule.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to reimburse charities for the costs of providing emergency accommodation to asylum seekers who have been incorrectly evicted from Home Office-provided accommodation while their asylum claims remain subject to appeal.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Department would not reimburse charities for the costs of providing emergency accommodation in these circumstances.

Individuals will always receive at least seven days of asylum support following notification that their support is being stopped, although this period is usually longer. This provides time for individuals to make an appeal or submit a reinstatement request before an eviction takes place. Where an appeal is made in time, the individual can continue receiving their existing asylum support.

The Committee are launching an inquiry into the UK export support system. The inquiry examines whether the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade alongside UK Export Finance:

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