Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hanson of Flint on 30 October (HL Deb col 1501), whether both local authorities were fully consulted prior to making a final decision on the selection of sites to house asylum seekers.

Consideration of both sites is ongoing and any final decision to utilise any site for the intended purposes will be made once the relevant factors have been properly considered. The Home Office continues to engage regularly with representatives from the local authority, the NHS, the Police, and local partners, including via Multi Agency Forums pre-delivery and post-Go Live of the proposed site to address the concerns of those most impacted and to identify ways to keep them informed. We will ensure that any development is safe, appropriate and compliant with planning regulations.