Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of his Departments policy on asylum accommodation since 2012.

The Home Office provides accommodation and other support to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. The accommodation is arranged through a number of housing providers, who are contractually required to provide safe, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped accommodation that complies with the Decent Homes Standard, as well as standards outlined in relevant national housing legislation.

There is an inspection and contract compliance regime in place to ensure that the standards required in the contracts are met.

We remain in regular discussion with Providers, service users, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders about ways to improve the services provided and we will be making a number of improvements to the design of the future contracted services as a direct result of such feedback.