Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
The Department explained that its aim was for as few service users as possible to...
Conclusion
The Department explained that its aim was for as few service users as possible to be accommodated in hotels and that those who do spend as little time as possible in hotels once they are there.37 The Department expected providers to move people with straightforward needs into dispersed accommodation within 35 days of their arrival.38 In its letter to us after our evidence session, the Department told us that on 1 October 2020, 428 school-age children had been in hotels for longer than 35 days.39 The NAO found that the Department penalises providers for each accommodation request and move every month that exceeds agreed timescales, rather than each day, and so providers may not be incentivised to move people out of hotels or initial accommodation once they had been there for longer than 35 days.40 We asked the Department why it had allowed this to be the case. The Department said that providers need to consider the vulnerabilities and support needs of individuals, meaning that it was not always appropriate to prioritise those asylum seekers that have been in hotels the longest.41
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
2.2 The government is committed to reducing and ending the routine use of hotel accommodation and is taking a range of steps with providers to achieve this. One of the ways in which the use of hotels can cease is through providers procuring sufficient dispersed accommodation, which requires the cooperation of local authorities. The department is doing all it can to encourage local authorities to support the procurement of sufficient dispersed accommodation and has recommenced the procurement of accommodation. The department, with support from the Cabinet Office, is working with its providers to accelerate their procurement plans and assess further options. The department is currently assessing the rate at which the hotel population can be reduced and the expected timescale for eliminating regular hotel use from the system. 2.3 The other way in which hotel usage can be reduced is through moving people whose asylum claim has been concluded out of asylum accommodation, and then returning to the usual flow of service users into dispersed accommodation. The department is working with local authorities to move people on from asylum accommodation when their claims have been concluded.