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Written question asked by Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party) on Tuesday, 29 November 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 2 December 2022 (named day). It was answered by Robert Jenrick (Conservative) on Friday, 2 December 2022 on behalf of the Home Office.

Asylum: Housing

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) recent steps she has taken and (b) steps she plans to take to help ensure that asylum accommodation does not have persistent black mould in it in the period since the death of Awaab Ishak in Rochdale; and if she will make a statement.

Answer

The welfare and safety of all vulnerable asylum seekers in our care is of the utmost importance to the Home Office, and we expect the highest standards from our accommodation providers. Our accommodation providers are contractually obliged to provide adequate accommodation and to conduct regular quality assurance checks across the asylum estate. Accommodation providers complete due diligence checks and all accommodation must be statutorily and regulatory compliant before they are selected. Robust compliance and governance protocols exist to ensure daily engagement is undertaken with our service providers by Home Office officials to ensure and assure that the providers’ operational delivery and overall performance consistently meet the required standards. This is supplemented by weekly, monthly and quarterly governance meetings.

The Home Office also has a Contract Assurance team which conducts a range of activities to ensure accommodation providers deliver to the required standards. All contingency accommodation sites are inspected by the team. Dispersal accommodation is also inspected on an intelligence led basis. Properties are checked against the high standards set by the contract. Providers are required to take immediate action to address any issues that are found.

Asylum seekers can raise specific issues or concerns about their accommodation through the 24/7 Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) service operated via Migrant Help. Home Office officials review the issues and feedback received via Migrant Help to help understand the health of the service and address any problems, for example, by targeting inspections of properties about which issues have been raised

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
98772
Session
2022-23
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Asylum Housing Health hazards Mould
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk