Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will investigate the circumstances under which worms were reportedly contained in food provided to a child in a Serco-run Midlands hotel for asylum seekers; and what steps she plans to take to ensure that the food provided at (a) that hotel and (b) other asylum accommodation is of a standard suitable for consumption.

The Home Office expects clear standards from our accommodation providers and monitors them closely to ensure those standards are met.

Evidence submitted to the Independent Chief Inspector showed that the accommodation providers were complying with the contractual requirement to have menus nutritionally validated and were providing a varied menu – usually rotating menus every 3 weeks. In addition, when physically visiting accommodation sites, inspectors noted menus on display at the sites appeared to be well balanced and showed that food options were rotated to create variety. They also found all the properties required to supply meals, provided the required number as stipulated in the contract requirements.

Service providers are also required to provide specialist meals as needed and that they should cater for special dietary, cultural or religious requirements. Inspectors saw evidence that specialist meals were provided and that dietary needs were considered.

We are aware of an isolated incident involving a fish which was freshly caught, the customer was immediately provided with an alternative meal as soon as hotel staff were made aware. This was an isolated incident and was dealt with appropriately at the time.