Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Accepted
Home Office still developing specific safety measures for residents in large accommodation sites.
Conclusion
The Home Office is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of people in its care, whether they are claiming asylum or pending relocation. But the National Audit Office reported that, in January 2024, the Home Office was still developing specific measures to assess how well providers were keeping residents safe in large sites. When we asked the Home Office about the safety of asylum seekers at large sites, it told us that there were benefits from the perspective of the asylum seeker of being in a large site rather than a hotel, such as dedicated healthcare provision and because they could have their asylum interviews there. We questioned what the Home Office was doing to address the particular issue of suicide or self-harm for those in its care. The Home Office outlined 27 Qq 62–64; Letter from Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, to Dame Meg Hillier DBE MP and Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP, Chairs, Public Accounts Committee and Home Affairs Committee - Asylum Accommodation and UK-Rwanda partnership, dated 25 April 2024 28 Qq 28, 29; C&AG’s Report, Asylum Accommodation, para 1.4; Independent Commission for Aid Impact follow- up: UK aid to refugees in the UK, 10 April 2024 29 Letter from Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, to Dame Meg Hillier DBE MP and Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP, Chairs, Public Accounts Committee and Home Affairs Committee - Asylum Accommodation and UK-Rwanda partnership, dated 25 April 2024 14 Asylum Accommodation and UK-Rwanda partnership that it undertakes screening to check suitability for room-sharing and that if tensions arise there were “signposted ways” for people to take up their concerns. It did not outline what these ways were, but it said that there was a migrant helpline available to all asylum seekers. The National Audit Office reported that decisions on who shares rooms in large sites were based primarily around people speaking the same language, and that there had been 283 incidents relating to s
Government Response Summary
The government states it agrees and has implemented the recommendation, detailing existing procedures for safeguarding, welfare, health checks, and ensuring safe accommodation for asylum seekers, but does not specifically commit to developing new measures to assess provider performance on safety or to clarify how concerns can be raised as implied by the committee's conclusion.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 3.2 All individuals are able to raise concerns with the department whilst their case is under consideration and where safeguarding concerns are raised, these are escalated to the relevant safeguarding hub. The Third Country Unit also has capability to make an immediate decision to admit an individual into the UK asylum system if the circumstances of any particular case merit such action, such as the welfare of an individual being significantly impacted by ongoing third country enquiries. 3.3 Asylum Accommodation service providers identify suitable accommodation and ensure that they conform to the accommodation standards and provision set out in Schedule 2 of the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts (AASC). 3.4 The Home Office then assesses the recommendation, undertaking a site visit with the accommodation provider as required and will work with the provider and property owner to bring the site up to a suitable standard. Local authority partners are able to visit sites should there be environment health, policing and/or Fire Authority concerns. 3.5 The department takes the welfare of asylum seekers extremely seriously. At every stage in the process, its approach is to ensure that all needs and vulnerabilities are identified and considered, including those related to mental health and trauma. 3.6 Providers follow established standard procedures to manage the safety, security and wellbeing being of those they accommodate. All asylum seekers undergo health checks and a screening interview to establish any vulnerabilities, and the basis of their asylum claim. 3.7 The department also works closely with the NHS, local authorities and non-governmental organisations to ensure that healthcare is accessible and operates a Safeguarding Hub to support vulnerable individuals. Every step is taken to ensure the safety of residents. All asylum seekers are able to access healthcare and are signposted to do so. 3.8 Accommodation is allocated on a no-choice basis and individuals may be moved to other locations in line with the Allocation of Accommodation guidance. The department continues to ensure the accommodation provided is safe, secure, leaves no one destitute and is appropriate for an individual’s needs.