Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted
Home Office contracts for migrant accommodation lack specified penalties for safeguarding failures.
Conclusion
The Home Office told us that health and welfare of migrants was “baked into” the way that it runs the sites and the contracts with suppliers. It said there were clear key performance indicators (KPIs) on accommodation being safe and habitable and that the providers have welfare teams on site. However, the National Audit Office reported that the contracts do not specify penalties if requirements to safeguard people are not met. The Home Office told us that there were regular contract management meetings where the KPIs are scrutinised. However, when we asked whether any financial penalties had been invoked in relation to a number of significant incidents—such as the legionella bacteria on board of the Bibby Stockholm vessel and the detection of infectious diseases at Wethersfield—the Home Office was not able to tell us if this had been the case.31 Working in partnership with local authorities
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that contracts include mechanisms for service credits for failing to meet KPIs on accommodation safety and habitability, and commits to providing the Committee with quarterly reports detailing these service credits applied in each region, starting October 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.12 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2024 for the previous quarter, continuing quarterly. 3.13 Asylum, Accommodation Support Contracts (AASC) provide a mechanism for application of service credits if provider performance does not meet the thresholds within the AASC contract. Accommodation standards are contained within AASC Contract Schedule 2, Statement of Requirements. 3.14 The requirements that accommodation be safe, habitable and fit for purpose are recorded as Key Performance Indicators 5, 6 & 7. 3.15 The Home Office will write to the Committee quarterly detailing the service credits applied in each region for these KPIs.