Recommendations & Conclusions
46 items
1
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted
Instead of acting as a short-term contingency measure, the use of hotels has become a widespread and embedded part of the asylum accommodation system, increasing the cost of the asylum accommodation contracts by billions of pounds beyond the original forecast. This is the result of a series of failures by …
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Instead of acting as a short-term contingency measure, the use of hotels has become a widespread and embedded part of the asylum accommodation system, increasing the cost of the asylum accommodation contracts by billions of pounds beyond the original forecast. This is the result of a series of failures by the Home Office in the design of the original contracts, and a manifest failure by the Home Office to grip the contracts and respond to increasing demand. The evidence we have examined leads us to conclude that providers can reap greater profits by prioritising the use of hotels over procuring other, more suitable forms of accommodation. Going forward, the Government will need to design a system that can flexibly respond to fluctuating demand while setting appropriate incentives for providers to maintain value for money. (Conclusion, Paragraph 31)
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office recognizes past failures and commits to exiting asylum hotels as soon as possible by progressing alternative accommodation, using sites like former military bases, and increasing Dispersal Accommodation, noting a significant reduction in hotel use already. They also commit to using lessons learned …
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Home Office
2
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
We recommend that the Home Office sets out plans for an asylum accommodation system that can flexibly respond to changing demand, whilst minimising potential costs to the taxpayer. In the short term, the Home Office should identify and implement any possible action it can take to direct and incentivise providers …
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We recommend that the Home Office sets out plans for an asylum accommodation system that can flexibly respond to changing demand, whilst minimising potential costs to the taxpayer. In the short term, the Home Office should identify and implement any possible action it can take to direct and incentivise providers to identify alternative accommodation and exit hotels. The Home Office should also give urgent consideration to the practical implications of exercising the contractual break clauses, that become exercisable from March 2026. The Home Office should ensure that the design of future contracts from 2029 onwards is sufficiently flexible to respond to changing demand, while protecting value for money, and provides the necessary levers to ensure providers deliver appropriate accommodation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 32) 95 Contract management
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Government response AI summary
The government's response focuses on strengthening its internal contract management capabilities, including investing in capacity, training, and accountability frameworks, and commissioning an independent review of these arrangements, rather than setting out plans for a flexible asylum accommodation system, specific incentives for exiting hotels, or the …
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Home Office
3
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted
We are persuaded by the evidence we have heard that, in the last Parliament, the Home Office focused on pursuing high-risk, poorly planned policy solutions and lost sight of the day-to-day work of effectively managing the asylum accommodation contracts. Failures of leadership at a senior level, shifting priorities, and political …
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We are persuaded by the evidence we have heard that, in the last Parliament, the Home Office focused on pursuing high-risk, poorly planned policy solutions and lost sight of the day-to-day work of effectively managing the asylum accommodation contracts. Failures of leadership at a senior level, shifting priorities, and political and operational pressure for quick results meant that the department was incapable of getting a grip of the situation, and allowed costs to spiral. The Home Office failed to undertake basic due diligence as it tried to respond to increased demand, most notably in the delivery of large sites, and has deprioritised the fundamentals of contract management. The Home Office was undoubtedly operating in an extremely challenging environment, but its chaotic response demonstrated that it was not up to this challenge. (Conclusion, Paragraph 42)
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Government response AI summary
The government states it has significantly strengthened its approach to assuring Key Performance Indicator (KPI) data, applying service credits, and improving contract management oversight over the past year, recovering £74 million. It commits to continuing to strengthen transparency and oversight and enhance management information platforms.
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Home Office
4
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
The Home Office was warned repeatedly that it needed to ensure it had adequate commercial and contract management capacity, but did not learn this lesson. Failure to do so left it unprepared to respond to the surge in demand for asylum accommodation. The department’s failure to recognise early on that …
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The Home Office was warned repeatedly that it needed to ensure it had adequate commercial and contract management capacity, but did not learn this lesson. Failure to do so left it unprepared to respond to the surge in demand for asylum accommodation. The department’s failure to recognise early on that the rapidly expanding value and complexity of the contracts would require additional resource and active management is unacceptable. We welcome the Home Office’s more recent capacity building and improvements to contract management, but this has come much too late. Given the department’s propensity for reprioritising staff and resources, we are also concerned that effective contract management may be deprioritised over time, risking similar failings as and when the next crisis arises. (Conclusion, Paragraph 43)
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Government response AI summary
The government responded by addressing the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration's access to contract information, stating current access is supervised and protocols are being updated, rather than detailing plans for enhancing its own commercial and contract management capability. It will consider formalising these …
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Home Office
5
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
The Home Office should set out plans for enhancing and maintaining its commercial and contract management capability, to ensure that it has the skills and resources necessary to effectively manage the delivery of the contracts and control the costs of asylum accommodation. This essential capability should be embedded as a …
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The Home Office should set out plans for enhancing and maintaining its commercial and contract management capability, to ensure that it has the skills and resources necessary to effectively manage the delivery of the contracts and control the costs of asylum accommodation. This essential capability should be embedded as a core function of the department’s operations, with clear accountability to prevent a decline in operational effectiveness over time. The Home Office should institute a consistent and systematic approach to the performance management of its officials and internal capabilities. Given these contracts will continue to cost vast sums of taxpayer money, the Home Office must ensure it acquires the capacity to manage them in a competent way. (Recommendation, Paragraph 44) 96 Oversight of provider performance
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Government response AI summary
The government committed to finalising robust amendments to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for service providers by February 2026, and to incorporating enhanced KPI frameworks into future asylum accommodation contracts. However, this response did not detail plans for enhancing the Home Office's own commercial and contract …
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Home Office
6
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted
The Home Office has neglected the oversight and assurance of performance of providers delivering multi-billion pound contracts. The department has been over-reliant on self-reporting of performance by providers and failed to invest in the assurance capacity necessary to properly monitor performance. As a result, the Home Office has not been …
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The Home Office has neglected the oversight and assurance of performance of providers delivering multi-billion pound contracts. The department has been over-reliant on self-reporting of performance by providers and failed to invest in the assurance capacity necessary to properly monitor performance. As a result, the Home Office has not been able to monitor effectively whether providers are delivering the standards required by the contracts. The department has strengthened its capacity more recently, and this increased resource is welcome, but we are still not convinced that the Home Office has sufficient oversight of the performance of contract providers to effectively hold them to account. (Conclusion, Paragraph 52)
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Government response AI summary
The government is devising and implementing a subcontractor assurance framework to identify and rectify issues within supply chains, ensuring providers conduct due diligence and strengthening supply-chain visibility for the Home Office. It also reported that 93% of identified excess profits have been returned.
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Home Office
7
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted
The Home Office has not taken a sufficiently robust approach to applying financial penalties for poor performance by providers. These have been applied late, if at all, with no explanation of why maximum penalties haven’t been applied. The Home Office does not financially penalise providers for performance failures at hotels, …
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The Home Office has not taken a sufficiently robust approach to applying financial penalties for poor performance by providers. These have been applied late, if at all, with no explanation of why maximum penalties haven’t been applied. The Home Office does not financially penalise providers for performance failures at hotels, Napier Barracks and Wethersfield. This is an inexplicable and unacceptable failure of accountability. The department’s independent audit of data on performance against KPIs in the asylum accommodation contracts is welcome but long overdue. (Conclusion, Paragraph 53)
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Government response AI summary
The government outlined the profit share mechanism in its contracts, reporting that £45.9 million has been received from providers to date, with a further £3.7 million under discussion. It states the outcome of the annual profit-share audit will be reported through the department's annual accounts.
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Home Office
8
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted
The Home Office should establish a clear process for routinely assuring KPI data submitted by asylum accommodation providers and applying service credits where providers fail to meet the terms of the contract. There should be a clear and transparent framework for decisions about when service credits are applied in full, …
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The Home Office should establish a clear process for routinely assuring KPI data submitted by asylum accommodation providers and applying service credits where providers fail to meet the terms of the contract. There should be a clear and transparent framework for decisions about when service credits are applied in full, in part, or waived. Service credits for performance failures should be applied across all types of accommodation. The Home Office should ensure that the inspection and assurance regime is proportionate to the value of the contracts. (Recommendation, Paragraph 54)
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Government response AI summary
The government committed to introducing a more rigorous profit-share methodology in future asylum contracts, with work already underway to incorporate these provisions into upcoming procurements to reinforce accountability and drive sustainable commercial outcomes.
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Home Office
9
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
The work of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) provides essential scrutiny of the delivery of asylum accommodation. The work of the ICIBI does not reduce the need for systematic assurance, but in the absence of adequate oversight by the Home Office, the role of the ICIBI …
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The work of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) provides essential scrutiny of the delivery of asylum accommodation. The work of the ICIBI does not reduce the need for systematic assurance, but in the absence of adequate oversight by the Home Office, the role of the ICIBI is crucial. The ICIBI does not have access to commercial contracts, which undermines transparency and the ability of the inspectorate to scrutinise the Home Office’s approach. (Conclusion, Paragraph 55)
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Government response AI summary
The government responded by detailing its plan to close asylum hotels by the end of the Parliament, stating it has already reduced hotel use and is exploring large sites, rather than addressing the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration's access to commercial contracts.
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Home Office
10
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration should be given access to commercial contracts so they can be properly scrutinised. The legislation underpinning the Inspector’s role should be amended if necessary to achieve this. (Recommendation, Paragraph 56) 97
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The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration should be given access to commercial contracts so they can be properly scrutinised. The legislation underpinning the Inspector’s role should be amended if necessary to achieve this. (Recommendation, Paragraph 56) 97
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Government response AI summary
The government responded by outlining contractual obligations for providers to notify asylum seekers of accommodation moves with at least five days' notice, and the provision of induction booklets and Migrant Help access, rather than addressing the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration's access to …
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Home Office
11
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Acknowledged
The failings in the current performance management regime mean that the Home Office is not able to properly hold its providers to account. The Home Office has had more than enough time to identify and address the deficiencies in the current Key Performance Indicator framework. Given the increased public prominence …
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The failings in the current performance management regime mean that the Home Office is not able to properly hold its providers to account. The Home Office has had more than enough time to identify and address the deficiencies in the current Key Performance Indicator framework. Given the increased public prominence and growth in the cost of asylum accommodation, it is unacceptable that the performance management regime remains under review, with no substantive changes, more than two years after the Independent Commission for Aid Impact identified shortcomings in the regime. (Conclusion, Paragraph 57)
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Government response AI summary
The government outlined Migrant Help's contractual responsibilities and performance standards under the AIRE contract, noting ongoing improvements but also stating the Home Office is currently reviewing performance frameworks and contract scope. It reserves the right to consider alternative providers if standards are not met.
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Home Office
12
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Acknowledged
The Home Office should, as a matter of urgency, agree new KPIs with contract providers. In future the KPI regime should be reviewed regularly to ensure that it remains appropriate and relevant. (Recommendation, Paragraph 58) Oversight of subcontractors
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The Home Office should, as a matter of urgency, agree new KPIs with contract providers. In future the KPI regime should be reviewed regularly to ensure that it remains appropriate and relevant. (Recommendation, Paragraph 58) Oversight of subcontractors
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Government response AI summary
The government responded by outlining the complexities of the current AIRE service delivery model and stating it is currently reviewing performance frameworks and contract scope, as well as examining alternative approaches for future AIRE service provision. It did not commit to urgently agreeing new Key …
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Home Office
13
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Acknowledged
Stay Belvedere Hotels Ltd was operating as a major subcontractor from 2019 onwards, but the Home Office only became aware of issues with the company within the last year. It was only after these issues came to light that the Home Office identified that Clearsprings had not been providing an …
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Stay Belvedere Hotels Ltd was operating as a major subcontractor from 2019 onwards, but the Home Office only became aware of issues with the company within the last year. It was only after these issues came to light that the Home Office identified that Clearsprings had not been providing an appropriate level of information about their major subcontractors. We have seen no evidence that the Home Office has maintained adequate oversight of subcontracting arrangements. (Conclusion, Paragraph 64)
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office updated its Safeguarding Framework in August 2025 and established a new Safeguarding and Public Protection Programme. However, it states that specific contractual performance measures and wider auditing for subcontractors are outside the current scope of work and remain under review for future …
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Home Office
14
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
We recommend that the Home Office reports back to us in its response to this report on the outcome of its audit of asylum accommodation subcontractors and implements a clear process for how it will regularly review significant subcontractors. It should also increase transparency about which companies are responsible for …
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We recommend that the Home Office reports back to us in its response to this report on the outcome of its audit of asylum accommodation subcontractors and implements a clear process for how it will regularly review significant subcontractors. It should also increase transparency about which companies are responsible for delivering asylum accommodation. In the interests of transparency, the Home Office should write to the Committee as soon as it is able, to provide a full account of the circumstances of the termination of Stay Belvedere Hotels Ltd as a subcontractor. (Recommendation, Paragraph 65) 98 Provider profits
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Government response AI summary
The government's response deflects the recommendation by focusing entirely on policies for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) and age assessment processes, rather than addressing subcontractor audits, transparency, or the termination of Stay Belvedere Hotels Ltd.
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Home Office
15
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
It is extremely disappointing that the Home Office only appears to have started the process for recouping excess profits from accommodation providers in 2024. Accommodation providers told us they had tens of millions waiting to be returned to the Home Office. This money should be supporting the delivery of public …
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It is extremely disappointing that the Home Office only appears to have started the process for recouping excess profits from accommodation providers in 2024. Accommodation providers told us they had tens of millions waiting to be returned to the Home Office. This money should be supporting the delivery of public services, not sitting in the bank accounts of private businesses. (Conclusion, Paragraph 70)
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Government response AI summary
The government deflects the conclusion about its failure to recoup excess profits from accommodation providers by discussing its strategy for dispersal accommodation, national allocation plans, and exiting hotels.
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Home Office
16
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
The Home Office should conclude the process of recouping excess profits for past years as quickly as possible and set out the amounts that have been returned to the department by contract providers. The Home Office should put in place an annual process for auditing profit share data submitted by …
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The Home Office should conclude the process of recouping excess profits for past years as quickly as possible and set out the amounts that have been returned to the department by contract providers. The Home Office should put in place an annual process for auditing profit share data submitted by contract providers and recouping any excess profits due. The department should report to Parliament on the outcome of this annual process. (Recommendation, Paragraph 71)
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Government response AI summary
The government's response deflects the recommendation to recoup excess profits and implement an annual audit process for profit share, instead focusing on its current and future procurement strategies for dispersed asylum accommodation and engagement with local authorities.
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Home Office
17
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
Despite provider profit margins being at the lower end of the Home Office’s original estimate, the way the profit share clause was designed means that as the value of the contracts has increased, providers have been able to make significantly higher cash profits than was anticipated when the contracts were …
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Despite provider profit margins being at the lower end of the Home Office’s original estimate, the way the profit share clause was designed means that as the value of the contracts has increased, providers have been able to make significantly higher cash profits than was anticipated when the contracts were set up. We are frustrated that the Home Office has left itself without a mechanism to prevent providers making excessive profits as the contract value has increased, largely due to the ongoing use of hotels. (Conclusion, Paragraph 72)
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Government response AI summary
The government deflects the conclusion regarding its failure to implement mechanisms preventing excessive provider profits, instead discussing its indexing model for dispersed accommodation, a pilot program for move-on periods, and data sharing guidance.
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Home Office
18
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
The Home Office should ensure that profit share clauses in future contracts take account of not just profit margins but also the cash value of profits, so that contract providers cannot benefit so substantially from increased demand for and changes to the type and/or base costs of asylum accommodation. (Recommendation, …
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The Home Office should ensure that profit share clauses in future contracts take account of not just profit margins but also the cash value of profits, so that contract providers cannot benefit so substantially from increased demand for and changes to the type and/or base costs of asylum accommodation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 73) Standards of accommodation and support Adequacy of accommodation
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Government response AI summary
The government deflects the recommendation to ensure future contracts include profit share clauses that account for the cash value of profits, by discussing its engagement with local authorities and communities regarding asylum accommodation and efforts to combat misinformation.
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Home Office
19
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
The quality of accommodation is highly variable across the country. While there is clearly accommodation of an acceptable standard, too many asylum seekers continue to be placed in accommodation that is inadequate or deeply unsuitable. The accommodation asylum seekers are housed in should be adequate, and it is unacceptable that …
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The quality of accommodation is highly variable across the country. While there is clearly accommodation of an acceptable standard, too many asylum seekers continue to be placed in accommodation that is inadequate or deeply unsuitable. The accommodation asylum seekers are housed in should be adequate, and it is unacceptable that significant amounts of taxpayers’ money is being used to house often vulnerable people in sub-standard accommodation. The Home Office is ultimately responsible for ensuring asylum seekers are accommodated appropriately, and to fulfil this responsibility the department must hold providers to account 99 where they fail to deliver the service they are being paid for. We have recommended earlier in this report that the Home Office strengthen its approach to performance management and oversight of these contracts. This is essential to ensure that vulnerable people are housed in adequate conditions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 80) Large sites and former military barracks
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Government response AI summary
The government deflects the recommendation to improve variable accommodation quality and strengthen performance management of providers, by focusing on its strategy to exit all asylum hotels and deliver a range of alternative accommodation sites.
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Home Office
20
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Acknowledged
Long stays in inappropriate hotels are often deeply harmful to the people accommodated there. Local services are left to respond to these impacts and fill the gaps where the basic needs of asylum seekers are not being met. The use of hotels has at times had a significant impact on …
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Long stays in inappropriate hotels are often deeply harmful to the people accommodated there. Local services are left to respond to these impacts and fill the gaps where the basic needs of asylum seekers are not being met. The use of hotels has at times had a significant impact on community cohesion, which cannot be underestimated. The closure of hotels should therefore help reduce the number of cases where asylum seekers are placed in inappropriate accommodation, and ease local tensions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 88)
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Government response AI summary
The government reiterates its commitment to closing asylum hotels by the end of Parliament, noting progress in reducing numbers and detailing its managed plan to coordinate closures with local authorities while exploring alternative large sites.
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Home Office
21
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted in Part
When planning the closure of the hotels, the Home Office should prioritise the closure of manifestly unsuitable hotels—such as those in remote areas and near limited infrastructure—that cause the most harm to their residents and place the most pressure on local services, and also the closure of hotels in areas …
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When planning the closure of the hotels, the Home Office should prioritise the closure of manifestly unsuitable hotels—such as those in remote areas and near limited infrastructure—that cause the most harm to their residents and place the most pressure on local services, and also the closure of hotels in areas that have experienced significant community cohesion issues. The Home Office should work with local partners to develop a prioritisation process to support the early closure of the least suitable hotels. (Recommendation, Paragraph 89) Communication with asylum seekers
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Government response AI summary
The government committed to closing asylum hotels as soon as possible, with current usage reduced, and will coordinate closures with local partners considering various factors. However, it did not explicitly commit to developing a specific prioritisation process for the early closure of manifestly unsuitable hotels.
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Home Office
22
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted
Communication with asylum seekers is inconsistent and often inadequate. Communication can be particularly poor when asylum seekers are moved between accommodation sites, which can happen with practically no notice. (Conclusion, Paragraph 93)
Government response AI summary
The government states that service providers have a contractual obligation to provide at least five days' notice for accommodation moves, that processes are in place and reviewed, and Migrant Help offers 24/7 support.
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Home Office
23
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted
We recommend that the Home Office sets clear standards for providers to communicate with asylum seekers about their accommodation and support, including minimum notice periods for moving asylum seekers to new accommodation. The department should regularly monitor provider practices to ensure these standards are being met and take corrective action …
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We recommend that the Home Office sets clear standards for providers to communicate with asylum seekers about their accommodation and support, including minimum notice periods for moving asylum seekers to new accommodation. The department should regularly monitor provider practices to ensure these standards are being met and take corrective action where necessary. (Recommendation, Paragraph 94) 100 The Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) service
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Government response AI summary
The government states that clear contractual obligations already require service providers to notify asylum seekers of moves with a minimum five-day notice, and these standards are monitored through departmental inspections and contract management meetings.
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Home Office
24
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted
The Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility Contract (AIRE) service delivered by Migrant Help has not been able to meet demand, and the Home Office has failed to effectively manage the performance of the service. We recognise that Migrant Help has delivered the service in a very difficult operating environment. However, …
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The Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility Contract (AIRE) service delivered by Migrant Help has not been able to meet demand, and the Home Office has failed to effectively manage the performance of the service. We recognise that Migrant Help has delivered the service in a very difficult operating environment. However, given the critical nature of this service, in both ensuring asylum seekers are able to raise issues and secure advice through the asylum process, and in enabling the Home Office to have oversight of its accommodation providers, it is essential that the Home Office ensures an adequate service is delivered. (Conclusion, Paragraph 107)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges Migrant Help's contractual obligations and monitoring, noting improvements in some KPIs, and states it is working closely with the provider while also reviewing performance frameworks and contract scope to ensure adequate service delivery.
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Home Office
25
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted in Part
The Home Office should take urgent action to address the performance of Migrant Help. If Migrant Help is unable to fulfil the Advice, Issue Reporting, and Eligibility (AIRE) contract to an acceptable standard, the Home Office should find an alternative provider or consider alternative ways of delivering the essential services …
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The Home Office should take urgent action to address the performance of Migrant Help. If Migrant Help is unable to fulfil the Advice, Issue Reporting, and Eligibility (AIRE) contract to an acceptable standard, the Home Office should find an alternative provider or consider alternative ways of delivering the essential services provided under this contract. (Recommendation, Paragraph 108)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges Migrant Help's contractual obligations and monitoring, stating improvements have been made and they are working closely with the provider; it also confirms it retains the right to consider alternative providers or delivery models if standards are not met, and is reviewing performance …
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Home Office
26
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
Migrant Help is not contracted to follow up on or monitor issues and does not have sight of the response from providers and the Home Office. This creates a significant gap in accountability. We recognise the value of enabling asylum seekers to raise concerns separately from accommodation providers and the …
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Migrant Help is not contracted to follow up on or monitor issues and does not have sight of the response from providers and the Home Office. This creates a significant gap in accountability. We recognise the value of enabling asylum seekers to raise concerns separately from accommodation providers and the Home Office itself. However, to ensure that concerns are addressed appropriately this system must have appropriate mechanisms for follow up and end-to-end oversight of issues and complaints. These do not currently exist. (Conclusion, Paragraph 109)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the need to review future delivery options for the AIRE service, stating it is currently reviewing performance frameworks and contract scope, and examining alternative approaches as part of future asylum contract development.
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Home Office
27
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Deferred
While we recognise the value of having an independent, national reporting mechanism for issues with asylum accommodation, we are not convinced that all elements of this service should be delivered through a centralised system. It was therefore encouraging to hear that the Home Office is considering more localised models for …
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While we recognise the value of having an independent, national reporting mechanism for issues with asylum accommodation, we are not convinced that all elements of this service should be delivered through a centralised system. It was therefore encouraging to hear that the Home Office is considering more localised models for the delivery of support. (Conclusion, Paragraph 110)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges challenges with solely local AIRE service delivery but recognizes the need to review future delivery options, stating it is currently reviewing performance frameworks and contract scope to inform future asylum contract models.
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Home Office
28
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted
We recommend that the Home Office reviews the structure and remit of the AIRE service, to identify changes that could be made to ensure the service delivers what is required. The Home Office should report back to us on the outcome of its consideration of how the advice and issue …
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We recommend that the Home Office reviews the structure and remit of the AIRE service, to identify changes that could be made to ensure the service delivers what is required. The Home Office should report back to us on the outcome of its consideration of how the advice and issue reporting system can best be delivered in the future. This should include an assessment of opportunities for delivering elements of this service at a local level, and possible mechanisms for follow up and end-to-end oversight of issues and complaints raised by asylum seekers. (Recommendation, Paragraph 111) 101 Safeguarding
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation to review the AIRE service, stating it is currently reviewing its structure, remit, performance frameworks, and contract scope, and examining alternative approaches as part of its future asylum contracts development.
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Home Office
29
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted in Part
We are deeply concerned by the volume of evidence indicating significant safeguarding failings in asylum accommodation. While there are evidently pockets of localised good practice, the response to safeguarding concerns is inconsistent and often inadequate, leaving vulnerable people at risk of harm. We are particularly concerned that the Home Office …
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We are deeply concerned by the volume of evidence indicating significant safeguarding failings in asylum accommodation. While there are evidently pockets of localised good practice, the response to safeguarding concerns is inconsistent and often inadequate, leaving vulnerable people at risk of harm. We are particularly concerned that the Home Office does not currently have adequate understanding and oversight of vulnerabilities and potential safeguarding issues among asylum seekers it accommodates. While accommodation providers have safeguarding requirements, performance on safeguarding is not measured and failure to meet these requirements does not lead to financial penalties for providers. It is essential that the Home Office works to ensure that vulnerable people in its accommodation are safeguarded and that providers are upholding safeguarding standards. (Conclusion, Paragraph 120)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges safeguarding's importance, detailing a revised Safeguarding Framework (Aug 2025) and a Public Protection and Safeguarding Programme to improve oversight, but notes that contractual performance measures and auditing for financial penalties are currently 'under review for future development'.
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Home Office
30
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the Home Office strengthens its approach to safeguarding by: a. Ensuring that there is a robust framework for overseeing and auditing how safeguarding policies and processes are applied on the ground by contractors and subcontractors; b. Ensuring that staff working directly with asylum seekers receive adequate safeguarding …
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We recommend that the Home Office strengthens its approach to safeguarding by: a. Ensuring that there is a robust framework for overseeing and auditing how safeguarding policies and processes are applied on the ground by contractors and subcontractors; b. Ensuring that staff working directly with asylum seekers receive adequate safeguarding training; c. Setting performance measures for safeguarding in the contracts, which allow the department to penalise providers who fail to meet safeguarding standards; d. Urgently reviewing its processes for identifying risks and vulnerabilities and sharing these with accommodation providers and statutory partners; and e. Using the data it receives through the Safeguarding Hub to more proactively monitor safeguarding concerns, including outcomes of incidents and referrals. (Recommendation, Paragraph 121) 102 Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office updated its safeguarding framework in August 2025 and established a Public Protection and Safeguarding Programme to improve risk management and communication. However, specific elements like contractual performance measures and wider auditing are currently outside scope and remain under review for future development.
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Home Office
31
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Acknowledged
There are significant failings in the current processes for making initial decisions about age and unreliable decisions are still leading to children being incorrectly placed in adult accommodation. We do not have confidence that the arrangements for accommodation providers to identify and refer age dispute cases to the relevant local …
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There are significant failings in the current processes for making initial decisions about age and unreliable decisions are still leading to children being incorrectly placed in adult accommodation. We do not have confidence that the arrangements for accommodation providers to identify and refer age dispute cases to the relevant local authority are consistently working as they should. This risks children being incorrectly accommodated in the adult asylum system, often in a shared room. This is a serious safeguarding issue. We welcome the department’s acceptance of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration’s recommendations to improve its age assessment processes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 128)
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office has closed emergency UASC hotels, provided incentivised funding to local authorities, and committed to strengthening age assessment processes through an Immigration White Paper and trials of AI technology. They also use safeguarding audits and contractual levers to monitor provider compliance.
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Home Office
32
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted
The Home Office should review and make improvements to arrangements for identifying and responding to age dispute cases in adult asylum accommodation and ensure that there is clear guidance for accommodation providers. To protect the welfare of children in the asylum system the department must ensure that provider staff have …
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The Home Office should review and make improvements to arrangements for identifying and responding to age dispute cases in adult asylum accommodation and ensure that there is clear guidance for accommodation providers. To protect the welfare of children in the asylum system the department must ensure that provider staff have adequate training to respond appropriately to such cases, and that information is consistently shared with local authorities. The Home Office should also establish a mechanism to monitor provider compliance with guidance and training requirements, ensuring that safeguarding responsibilities are being met in practice. (Recommendation, Paragraph 129) Impacts on local areas The distribution of accommodation
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office is committed to strengthening age dispute processes, including commissioning trials for AI technology to improve age assessment. They use safeguarding audits and contractual levers to monitor provider compliance with guidance and training requirements, and facilitate information sharing through daily travel lists and …
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Home Office
33
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Rejected
The use of hotels for asylum accommodation was intended to be a short- term, contingency measure and consequently people in Contingency Accommodation do not “count” towards the Home Office’s plans for the distribution of asylum seekers across the country. In practice, there are Contingency hotels that have been open in …
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The use of hotels for asylum accommodation was intended to be a short- term, contingency measure and consequently people in Contingency Accommodation do not “count” towards the Home Office’s plans for the distribution of asylum seekers across the country. In practice, there are Contingency hotels that have been open in some areas for years and may not close for some time, including hotels that were opened without even informing the local authority. Given the long-term use of many hotels, and the high proportion of asylum seekers currently accommodated in these hotels, the failure to join up the procurement of Dispersal and Contingency Accommodation is unfair on local authorities and unacceptable. The factors considered when setting targets for Dispersal Accommodation—such as homelessness pressures and arrivals on humanitarian schemes—should also be considered when deciding to open, or close, Contingency hotels. (Conclusion, Paragraph 140) 103
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees it needs to account for contingency accommodation in overall planning, but explicitly rejects the recommendation to directly include contingency accommodation in National Allocation Plans for Dispersal Accommodation, citing concerns it would limit procurement of needed dispersal sites.
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Home Office
34
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Rejected
We recommend that the Home Office amends the indexing tool used to develop targets for the distribution of asylum seekers across the country so that it accounts for use of Contingency Accommodation. We also recommend that the Home Office ensures that accommodation providers take account of existing Contingency and Dispersal …
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We recommend that the Home Office amends the indexing tool used to develop targets for the distribution of asylum seekers across the country so that it accounts for use of Contingency Accommodation. We also recommend that the Home Office ensures that accommodation providers take account of existing Contingency and Dispersal Accommodation— and other factors included in the indexing tool—when identifying any new Contingency Accommodation sites. (Recommendation, Paragraph 141)
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office is reviewing its indexing tool but rejects the recommendation to directly account for Contingency Accommodation in its plans, arguing it would limit increasing Dispersal Accommodation. However, it does require providers to consider existing Dispersal Accommodation when proposing new sites.
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Home Office
35
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Acknowledged
The Home Office has failed to achieve its targets for an equitable distribution of asylum seekers. Asylum accommodation is still heavily concentrated in particular areas, often areas of high deprivation. Many local authorities do not have faith that the department will achieve a fair and equitable distribution of accommodation. The …
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The Home Office has failed to achieve its targets for an equitable distribution of asylum seekers. Asylum accommodation is still heavily concentrated in particular areas, often areas of high deprivation. Many local authorities do not have faith that the department will achieve a fair and equitable distribution of accommodation. The Home Office has failed to ensure providers deliver in line with its plans—something that should have been considered when the contracts were set up—and has not succeeded in allaying concerns that providers are procuring on the basis of cost, rather than equity. We recognise that there are substantial barriers to achieving the plans in some areas, due to the broader failure of house building rates and access to services to keep pace with population growth, but we have seen no evidence that the Home Office has a credible plan for meeting its targets to make the distribution of asylum accommodation more equitable. (Conclusion, Paragraph 154)
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office states its commitment to fair distribution and is reviewing its indexing tool for capacity and impact. It has National Asylum Allocation Plans and a transformation programme to reduce reliance on contingency accommodation and restore a sustainable dispersal model, despite rejecting a specific …
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Home Office
36
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the Home Office set out the steps it will take to overcome barriers to the delivery of a fairer distribution of accommodation and improve engagement with local authorities on how best to address barriers to procurement. Local authorities are the experts on their areas, and the Home …
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We recommend that the Home Office set out the steps it will take to overcome barriers to the delivery of a fairer distribution of accommodation and improve engagement with local authorities on how best to address barriers to procurement. Local authorities are the experts on their areas, and the Home Office should consult them on price caps for procuring accommodation. The Home Office should work with local authorities and Strategic Migration Partnerships to understand where spending on asylum accommodation can be invested in local housing and bring benefits to local communities, such as through renovating existing housing, repurposing appropriate buildings, fixing void accommodation, or building new housing. The Home Office should ensure that the future contracts provide them with stronger levers to direct providers to procure accommodation in line with Home Office requirements. (Recommendation, Paragraph 155) 104 Pressure on local services
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office states it already works with local authorities and Strategic Migration Partnerships to address procurement barriers and plans for future contracts to include stronger levers to direct providers. However, it does not specifically address consulting on price caps or investing in local housing.
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Home Office
37
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Acknowledged
The Home Office has failed to properly consider the impacts of its approach to the delivery of asylum accommodation on local areas and to engage early with local partners to understand what these impacts might be. It is inexplicable that the Home Office has placed no obligation on providers to …
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The Home Office has failed to properly consider the impacts of its approach to the delivery of asylum accommodation on local areas and to engage early with local partners to understand what these impacts might be. It is inexplicable that the Home Office has placed no obligation on providers to assess impacts on local areas. Failures to identify and mitigate impacts, compounded by the disproportionate distribution of accommodation, has led to some local services experiencing unsustainable pressures. This failure to recognise broader impacts can be seen in the pressures experienced by local authorities in areas where significant numbers of asylum seekers have received positive decisions and subsequently become homeless. These pressures have been exacerbated by inconsistent communication and inadequate data sharing, which has undermined the ability of local partners to respond effectively to the placement of asylum seekers in their area. (Conclusion, Paragraph 165)
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office states that impacts on local areas are actively considered using an indexing model that accounts for local pressures. It launched a pilot to extend the move-on period for asylum seekers and has issued guidance to all providers on appropriate data sharing to …
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Home Office
38
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Rejected
We recommend that the Home Office implements a package of reforms to ensure that the impact of asylum accommodation on local areas is accounted for, including by: a. Ensuring that impacts on local services are adequately assessed by providers prior to accommodation being procured; b. Providing local authorities with at …
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We recommend that the Home Office implements a package of reforms to ensure that the impact of asylum accommodation on local areas is accounted for, including by: a. Ensuring that impacts on local services are adequately assessed by providers prior to accommodation being procured; b. Providing local authorities with at least 28 days’ notice of the use of new Contingency Accommodation; c. Reinstating the 56 day notice period for asylum seekers who have received a positive decision; and d. Collaborating with local authorities to develop a clear data- sharing standard which sets out what information should be shared with partners, and when. The Home Office should also ensure that data is shared consistently across different providers and the different regions. This could be reflected in a new KPI regime. (Recommendation, Paragraph 166) 105 Community cohesion
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office states it already considers impacts on local areas via an indexing model and has issued data sharing guidance to providers. However, it does not address providing 28 days' notice for new Contingency Accommodation and, after a pilot, reverted to a 28-day notice …
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Home Office
39
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Acknowledged
For too long, the Home Office has not prioritised community cohesion in its approach to asylum accommodation, no doubt at least partly because that is the responsibility of another department. The Home Office has failed to properly engage with local communities, and as a result has missed opportunities to proactively …
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For too long, the Home Office has not prioritised community cohesion in its approach to asylum accommodation, no doubt at least partly because that is the responsibility of another department. The Home Office has failed to properly engage with local communities, and as a result has missed opportunities to proactively communicate its approach to asylum accommodation and address local concerns. The lack of engagement and transparency has left space for misinformation and mistrust to grow, which in too many areas has led to tensions and undermined the ability of local partners to promote social cohesion. (Conclusion, Paragraph 172)
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office asserts it already engages extensively with local authorities and partners on asylum accommodation. It is also committed to improving and prioritizing communication with local communities, developing clear messaging, strengthening engagement channels, and undertaking trials with police forces to counter misinformation and foster …
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Home Office
40
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted
The Home Office should work with other government departments, local authorities, devolved administrations and community groups to improve communication with local communities about the use of asylum accommodation in their areas. This should include communicating how legitimate concerns are being addressed and ensuring that misinformation is challenged. (Recommendation, Paragraph 173) …
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The Home Office should work with other government departments, local authorities, devolved administrations and community groups to improve communication with local communities about the use of asylum accommodation in their areas. This should include communicating how legitimate concerns are being addressed and ensuring that misinformation is challenged. (Recommendation, Paragraph 173) The Home Office’s strategy
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Government response AI summary
The government accepted the recommendation, committing to improving communication with local communities, addressing legitimate concerns, and challenging misinformation. It outlined specific actions including developing clear messaging, strengthening engagement channels, and conducting trials with police forces.
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Home Office
41
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Acknowledged
The Home Office has not demonstrated that it has had a strategy for the delivery of asylum accommodation. The department’s approach has instead been a series of hasty, short-term responses, damaging relationships with partners and confidence in the ability of government to deliver, as well as wasting taxpayers’ money. In …
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The Home Office has not demonstrated that it has had a strategy for the delivery of asylum accommodation. The department’s approach has instead been a series of hasty, short-term responses, damaging relationships with partners and confidence in the ability of government to deliver, as well as wasting taxpayers’ money. In the face of current pressures for swift action on asylum accommodation, the Home Office must learn the lessons from its previous mistakes and avoid cutting corners in a rush to deliver short-term solutions without a clear strategy. (Conclusion, Paragraph 177) The Home Office’s future strategy
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Government response AI summary
The government reiterates its commitment to exiting all asylum hotels as soon as possible, stating it's a complex programme requiring a balanced and evidence-based approach, and is reviewing its long-term accommodation strategy.
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Home Office
42
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Acknowledged
The 2026 break clause and the end of the contracts in 2029 represent an opportunity to draw a line under the current failed, chaotic and expensive system and move to a model that is more effective and offers value for money. While the Home Office is considering options, it has …
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The 2026 break clause and the end of the contracts in 2029 represent an opportunity to draw a line under the current failed, chaotic and expensive system and move to a model that is more effective and offers value for money. While the Home Office is considering options, it has not yet shared a clear strategy for the delivery of a sustainable accommodation system. Moreover, there has been little clarity from ministers even regarding the basis on which they will make a decision on using the break clause. There is a serious risk that if the Home Office does not expedite the development of a long-term strategy for the future delivery of asylum accommodation, when it is time to replace the current contracts the department will find itself in a similar position to that of 2019, with limited choices as to how it secures accommodation. (Conclusion, Paragraph 186) 106
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office states that exiting asylum hotels is a top priority, with significant progress already made, and commits to ending hotel use by the end of the current Parliament. It is reviewing its long-term accommodation strategy in light of recent policy statements and is …
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Home Office
43
Conclusion
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Acknowledged
The Government has committed to ending the use of hotels to house asylum seekers by the end of this Parliament. Ministers have yet to set out a fully articulated plan with clear milestones for how the Government will deliver a significant reduction in the use of hotels while maintaining flexible …
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The Government has committed to ending the use of hotels to house asylum seekers by the end of this Parliament. Ministers have yet to set out a fully articulated plan with clear milestones for how the Government will deliver a significant reduction in the use of hotels while maintaining flexible capacity in the system. We recognise that the Home Office faces an extremely difficult task, and there are no quick or easy solutions to ending the use of hotels. Due to the inherent unpredictability of the need for asylum accommodation, use of hotels as Contingency Accommodation has proved an essential backstop in the system for years. This experience suggests that it is unwise for the Government to box itself in by ruling out options. The Government must be honest about the challenges it faces if it is to avoid undermining public confidence still further by making commitments that it cannot expect to keep. (Conclusion, Paragraph 187)
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Government response AI summary
The government reiterates its commitment to ending hotel use by the end of Parliament, citing progress in reducing numbers, and states it is reviewing its long-term accommodation strategy, but will not publish specific timelines for closures.
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Home Office
44
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the Government set out a clear, credible strategy for how it will reduce the use of asylum hotels and deliver a sustainable system of asylum accommodation. This strategy should include a realistic timeframe and achievable milestones to ensure that the Home Office has enough time to implement …
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We recommend that the Government set out a clear, credible strategy for how it will reduce the use of asylum hotels and deliver a sustainable system of asylum accommodation. This strategy should include a realistic timeframe and achievable milestones to ensure that the Home Office has enough time to implement its strategy, in anticipation of the 2026 break clause and the end of the contracts in 2029. The outcome of the pilots being conducted to inform the strategy should be shared with the Committee. The Government should publish details of its overarching strategy for delivering asylum accommodation—in the interests of transparency and accountability—and share detailed plans with key partners, whose engagement will be crucial to its successful implementation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 188)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the need to exit hotels, reiterates its commitment to do so by the end of Parliament, and states it is reviewing its long-term accommodation strategy but will not publish specific timeframes or detailed plans for operational reasons.
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Home Office
45
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Acknowledged
There is no one solution that will solve the fundamental challenges of delivering asylum accommodation on the required scale, and the Home Office cannot simply sub-contract responsibility to local government or private companies—ministers must have effective control and oversight. Regardless of the model the Home Office adopts, working in partnership …
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There is no one solution that will solve the fundamental challenges of delivering asylum accommodation on the required scale, and the Home Office cannot simply sub-contract responsibility to local government or private companies—ministers must have effective control and oversight. Regardless of the model the Home Office adopts, working in partnership with local stakeholders nevertheless remains essential, and the Home Office should work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and local government to shape a future approach that is more locally led but better centrally coordinated. (Conclusion, Paragraph 197)
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Government response AI summary
The government is committed to ending hotel use for asylum accommodation and is reviewing its long-term strategy, working with other departments and engaging with local authorities. However, it did not explicitly commit to shaping a future approach that is *more locally led* as recommended, focusing …
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Home Office
46
Recommendation
4th Report – The Home Office's manageme…
Not Addressed
In principle, a decentralised model could provide a viable alternative to a centralised system that has simply not worked. A more localised approach could have a number of benefits, in particular enabling greater co- ordination between asylum accommodation and other services. Delivering such a system effectively will require resources, time …
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In principle, a decentralised model could provide a viable alternative to a centralised system that has simply not worked. A more localised approach could have a number of benefits, in particular enabling greater co- ordination between asylum accommodation and other services. Delivering such a system effectively will require resources, time and a clear strategy. Shifting to localised delivery would not by itself deal with the challenges inherent in the system, and could create new risks, such as increasing fragmentation, and exacerbate existing problems, such as poor central oversight. Fairness and equity, rather than cost, should be paramount 107 regardless of the system used. The Home Office remains ultimately responsible for the asylum accommodation system, regardless of who is leading on delivery on the ground. That should not change; but it must ensure it devotes the necessary resources to overseeing the system. If the Home Office chooses to pursue a more decentralised model for the delivery of asylum accommodation, it needs to develop a strategy for capitalising on the opportunities presented by decentralisation while addressing the considerable challenges. (Conclusion, Paragraph 198) 108
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Government response AI summary
The government reiterates its commitment to exiting all asylum hotels and is reviewing its long-term accommodation strategy, but does not address the recommendation about developing a strategy for a potential decentralised model or devoting resources to its oversight.
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Home Office