Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 139
Home Office compliance failures endanger pregnant asylum seekers and new mothers during accommodation moves.
Conclusion
The Home Office is too often failing to comply with guidance on moving pregnant women and new mothers between asylum accommodation settings. The guidance is clear that such moves are potentially harmful and should only be made where advice on safety has first been sought from a clinician and acted on. We heard that the health of mothers and babies has been put at risk, with moves taking place within days of women’s due dates and shortly after births. This is dangerous and unacceptable. There is a lack of data on pregnant women in the system by which to monitor the Home Office’s compliance with its own guidance.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the vulnerability of pregnant women and new mothers and states that it has updated internal guidance to make clear the requirement to record and monitor moves of these women between asylum accommodation settings.
Paragraph Reference:
139
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
We recognise the particular vulnerability of pregnant women and new mothers and are committed to ensuring that they receive the support they need. Our policy is clear that moves should only be made where advice on safety has first been sought from a clinician and acted on. In order to improve data collection and monitoring, we have updated our internal guidance to make clear the requirement to record and monitor any moves of pregnant women and new mothers between asylum accommodation settings.