Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is taking steps to provide resources to Civil Society to help them support refugees staying in hotels within their local communities.

The welfare and safety of all vulnerable asylum seekers in our care is of the upmost importance to the Home Office. Our accommodation providers have a robust delivery model in place, maximising the use of on-site facilities for recreation, and pastoral care to minimise impact on the local community. Security and support staff are on site 24 hours a day and providers liaise closely with local police to ensure the safety of vulnerable residents and to mitigate any risks to them and the wider community. All asylum seekers undergo a security clearance at Manston.

All asylum seekers have access to NHS services from arrival in the UK. The Home Office and its contractors work closely with the NHS, local authorities and non-governmental organisations to ensure that people can access the health care and support they need. Funding is available to the Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) who are responsible for commissioning healthcare services for those in initial accommodation and this can be claimed via the NHS England contact.

The Full Dispersal model, announced on 13 April 2022is supported by £21million of un-ringfenced grant funding to make sure eligible Local Authorities can provide wraparound support locally. Local authorities will also receive £3,500 for each new dispersal accommodation bed space in the 22/23 financial year.