Thank you for contacting me about accommodation of people seeking asylum in the UK. I know that the Government takes the welfare of people in Home Office care extremely seriously and is fulfilling its statutory duties to ensure decent, safe and humane conditions. As an MP I have in the past been approached by people seeking assistance with their asylum claim and I have always ensured that their queries are dealt with promptly and raised any issues with UK Visa and Immigration, the Home Office agency which oversees the process.
In recent months, the number of people within the asylum system has risen because the Government has temporarily extended asylum support for those whose claims have been decided – whether their claims lead to a grant of asylum or not. This was necessary to help stop the spread of coronavirus and ensure people have safe accommodation during the pandemic.
This has placed a strain on the stock of housing normally used for asylum seekers, It has therefore been necessary for the Government to act quickly to source contingency accommodation to create additional temporary capacity.
After looking into this, I have been reassured that those accommodated at these sites have access to appropriate medical care, are provided with meals and necessities and have access to the 24/7 Migrant Help helpline for advice and to raise problems.
I will continue to monitor the situation very closely. However, I welcome the action taken by the Government to ensure the UK continues to meet its obligations and commitments to the most vulnerable people. This is of course in the context of unprecedented domestic challenges caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.
