Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children will be moved from Manston Immigration Processing Centre to hotels; and what steps she is taking to provide support for those children.

It is not possible to state how many children will, as part of family groups, be moved from Manston on future dates given uncertainty about future small boat arrivals.

Where families are moved to contingency accommodation, including hotels, the Home Office expects the highest standards from our accommodation providers, who are expected to conduct regular checks across the asylum estate to ensure their contractual obligations are being met. Our accommodation providers are experienced and have all the required policies and procedures in place around security, safeguarding, critical incident management and health and safety.

The support provided at hotels includes;

• Three, varied and appropriate meals a day which included a continental breakfast, lunch and evening meals with a choice of at least one hot, one cold selection and a vegetarian option. Babies and small children are also provided with appropriate foodstuffs and this service will allow them to be fed whenever necessary.
• Additional support items supplied, including baby care equipment, disposable nappies, personal toiletries and feminine hygiene products.
• Access to laundry facilities or a laundry service will be available for all service users.
• All individuals in full board Initial Accommodation (IA) receive a weekly £8 cash allowance onto an ASPEN card.
• Asylum seekers also have free access to healthcare through the NHS and, for their children under 18, they have access to full-time education.
• All people accommodated within our estate have access to our Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) provider, Migrant Help. Asylum seekers are able to contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year if they need help, advice or guidance.