Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to consult with local authorities before making use of the powers under section 100 and section 101 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 that require a (a) local authority and (b) registered social landlord to assist or designate part of their housing for the purposes of asylum accommodation.

The Home Office has no plans to use the powers described under section 100 and section 101 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 that require a (a) local authority and (b) registered social landlord to assist or designate part of their housing for the purposes of asylum accommodation.

The Home Office is working closely with a wide range of local authorities to increase the number of areas across the UK that agree to accommodate and support people seeking protection. We take a coordinated approach to the delivery of the various resettlement and asylum schemes and engage through the Regional Strategic Migration Partnerships to consider the impact on communities and local services so that adjustments can be made where appropriate. Participation in asylum dispersal is subject to discussion and agreement with individual local authorities and there is no target level of participation - every local authority is encouraged to contribute.