Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to promote community engagement between asylum seekers and established populations.

The Government is dedicated to building strong, integrated communities.

We are committed to ensuring that for all those granted refugee status the transition from government supported accommodation into mainstream services is as smooth as possible. In 2018/19 my department will be funding around 20 local authorities with the highest numbers of asylum seekers to support new refugees into housing, employment and English language learning.

Since its launch in November 2016 my department has awarded £9 million from the Controlling Migration Fund to 32 English local authorities for projects developing the capacity of local authorities to support unaccompanied asylum seeking children within their communities. This includes projects that help the wider community develop innovative approaches to welcoming and supporting these vulnerable young people.

My department will shortly be announcing which local authorities areas are being supported to take this work forward.