Government responds to Committee Asylum accommodation report
10 November 2017
The Home Affairs Committee publishes Government Response to its Asylum Accommodation Report: Asylum accommodation: Government Response to the Committee's Twelfth Report of Session 2016–17 (HC 551)
- Read the Response: Asylum accommodation: Government Response to the Committee's Twelfth Report of Session 2016–17
- Read the Response: Asylum accommodation: Government Response to the Committee's Twelfth Report of Session 2016–17 (PDF 240 KB)
- Inquiry: Asylum accommodation
- Home Affairs Committee
Chair's comments
Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, commented:
"The Home Office has taken almost a year to provide us with a response to our report and it really isn't good enough. They claim to have spent the time reassuring themselves of the effectiveness of their "robust procedures" and "rigorous inspection regime".
I am far from convinced. Only last month, charities reported that unclean, vermin infested, damp conditions remain a common experience for asylum seekers arriving in the UK. It is difficult to know what exactly it will take before these shameful conditions are acknowledged and meaningful action taken.
These are vulnerable people, coming to this country to escape harrowing circumstances. We have a duty to provide safe, clean accommodation while their claim is assessed.The Government is not taking this responsibility seriously enough. We will want to see improvements in this area, and for these recommendations to be taken up as the new approach is drawn up when current contracts run out in 2019."
Further information
Image: PA