Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to exercise her powers under section 101(3) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 only with the agreement of Ministers of the Scottish Government, as set out under section 101(7) of that Act.

Asylum seekers are housed across the UK under voluntary agreements between national government and local authorities that have been in place since 2000.The Home Office maintains an active partnership with local governments across the UK, including those in Scotland, and funds Strategic Migration Partnerships to plan for the most appropriate dispersal of asylum seekers. The partnerships consider the impact on communities and local services so that adjustments to dispersal patterns can be made where appropriate.

Local authorities are consulted before asylum seekers are placed in their area, so that the potential impact on communities and local services is fully considered. We continue to work closely with a wide range of local authorities, including those in Scotland, to increase the number of areas that voluntarily accommodate and support people seeking asylum and protection – every local authority is encouraged to contribute.

There are powers in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to designate areas of the country as “reception zones” if it is believed that a local authority covering the particular area has suitable housing that can used to accommodate destitute asylum seekers. The Home Office has not used these powers, but would consult fully with local authorities and Ministers of the Scottish Government if they were minded to use them.