Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what requirements to support asylum seekers and refugees are included in the contracts with suppliers of accommodation for those people; and what steps they are taking to monitor contractors’ performance in this and other respects.

COMPASS Contract Providers are required to provide safe, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped accommodation to comply with relevant mandatory and statutory requirements in relation to housing. This includes the Housing Act 2004 and the Decent Homes Standard.

Asylum applicants are provided with signposting support services as soon as they arrive at their dispersed accommodation with information and advice that they need in order to cope with the new environment in which they are being accommodated. The focus of this support is the accommodation provided, individual safety, the operating instructions for equipment, facilities and installed items provided for comfort and general living. Service users are also given advice on access to healthcare and how to register with the nearest GP practice or attendance at the nearest hospital in case of immediate medical concerns.

The Home Office has a rigorous contract compliance regime in place including monthly meetings with providers, and quarterly and biannual strategic meetings. Home Office contract compliance teams scrutinise providers’ services on a daily basis (via inspections, monitoring customer service and administrative audit) and they are supported by Home Office Service Delivery Managers. The Home Offices governance regime which is subject to Government oversight through quarterly reports to the Cabinet Office ensures that contracts and providers are well managed.