Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action she is taking to ensure adequate access to housing for the Windrush generation.

Appropriate safeguarding processes are built into compliant environment measures, including the right to redress, but clearly there is more to be done here. We are reviewing compliant environment measures and taking immediate action to introduce additional safeguards to protect Windrush generation cases. These cases will be dealt with quickly and sensitively.

The Home Office has also sent out communications urging other government departments and public authorities to exercise particular care when responding to applications for benefits and services from the Windrush generation. Guidance has also been added to the www.gov.uk website advising landlords on what they should do - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/landlords-immigration-right-to-rent-checks

Individuals who are unable to access housing in the UK as a result of not provide the appropriate documentation to show that they are entitled to live in the UK should contact the Home Office, by telephone on 0800 678 1925 or by emailing commonwealthtaskforce@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk. The team will help the applicants to demonstrate that they are entitled to live in the UK and will aim to resolve cases within two weeks when the evidence has been provided.