Recommendations & Conclusions
11 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 …
Government response. 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 …
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 …
Government response. 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 …
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 …
Government response. 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 …
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, …
Government response. 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 …
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, …
Government response. 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.
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. 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.
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 …
Government response. 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.
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, …
Government response. 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.
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 …
Government response. 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.
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 …
Government response. 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 …
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) …
Government response. 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.
Home Office