Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how are "vulnerable people" defined when allocating shared bedrooms to unrelated asylum seekers under Home Office COMPASS contracts.

Asylum accommodation Providers are contractually required to take account of any particular circumstances and vulnerability of those that they accommodate to ensure that destitute asylum seekers are housed safely and securely. Such an assessment is made on a case-by-case basis depending on the specific needs of that individual. There are strict criteria set out in the contract around when room sharing can take place and who can share a room. Providers must also comply with local regulations including advice from social services and primary and secondary care bodies on whether room sharing is inappropriate.

The use of individual properties across provider’s portfolios changes daily subject to demand. Information on the current number of bedrooms shared between unrelated individuals could only be provided at disproportionate cost by examination of individual provider property records.