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Written question asked by Lord Rosser (Labour) on Monday, 5 December 2022, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 December 2022. It was answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth (Conservative) on Monday, 19 December 2022 on behalf of the Home Office.


Asylum: Housing

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government how areas are chosen to provide accommodation to asylum seekers; and what consideration is given to fair distribution across the country when making these decisions.

Answer

The United Kingdom has a statutory obligation to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation and other support whilst their application for asylum is being considered. Private accommodation is sourced through our Asylum Accommodation and Support Services contracts (AASC) providers. The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area. These statistics can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support. Data is published on a quarterly basis, with the latest information published 24 November 2022.

Accommodation costs are considered to be commercially confidential, therefore the Home Office does not publish this information. However, total expenditure on asylum is published in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ho-annual-reports-and-accounts

From 13 April 2022, all Local Authority areas in England, Scotland and Wales were obliged to participate in a new system of full dispersal accommodation. This will help the Home Office to move from using hotels to less expensive and more suitable dispersed accommodation. The Full Dispersal model allows the Home Office to procure dispersal properties within the private rental sector in all Local Authority areas across England, Scotland and Wales, rather than the minority of Local Authorities which currently participate. This approach will reduce pressures on those Local Authorities that already participate.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL4037
Session
2022-23
Related items
Asylum: Housing
Wednesday, 8 February 2023
Written questions
House of Lords
Asylum: Housing
Wednesday, 8 February 2023
Written questions
House of Lords
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Asylum Housing Location
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk