Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had recent discussions with York City of Sanctuary on the arrival of refugees in York.

Asylum seekers transferred from Manston to York have access to Migrant Help, a voluntary sector organisation funded by the Home Office, can use the NHS free of charge and are provided with other support to cover their essential living needs, in the same way as other asylum seekers accommodated by the Home Office.

A consultation meeting was held with York LA and other stakeholders, including York City of Sanctuary on Thursday 3^rd November to discuss the use of a site in the city for the accommodation of asylum seekers. Also represented at the meeting were representatives from health, education, police, fire service and the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS).

Weekly meetings will be held to discuss the operating of this site up to it going live and beyond as well as sub groups to discuss more in depth issues such as health, policing, fire safety, VCS and education.