New inquiry into Asylum Accommodation launched

• Home Affairs Committee
• New inquiry: Asylum accommodation

There is a legal duty on the Home Office to provide accommodation and subsistence support to people claiming asylum while their claim is assessed if they are considered destitute. Accommodation has been provided at a range of sites, including large sites and local housing, but a significant increase in demand over recent years has led to a greater use of temporary hotel spaces. Accommodation is delivered by private providers and spending on asylum accommodation and support has grown significantly, from £739 million in 2019-20 to £4.7 billion in 2023-24.   

Following the general election, the Government pledged to end the use of hotels and reduce spending on asylum accommodation. The Government has announced a shift away from the use of the large sites, cancelling the planned site at RAF Scampton and ending the use of the Bibby Stockholm barge for housing asylum seekers.    

In this inquiry, the Home Affairs Committee will examine how asylum accommodation is currently delivered, and what lessons can be learned and applied to the Government’s future strategy on asylum accommodation. It will examine whether the contracts for providing asylum accommodation are delivered effectively, and how the Home Office works with local partners. 

Chair Comment

Launching the inquiry, Dame Karen Bradley said:  

“The Government has made reforming the asylum accommodation system and ending the use of asylum hotels a key pledge. We want to scrutinise how the Home Office and its providers are currently delivering asylum accommodation, what needs to change and what lessons can be learned as the Government seeks to reset its approach. 

“We also want to understand explore how the current approach to delivering asylum accommodation has affected local services, particularly local authorities, and how the Home Office has worked with the local partners to address challenges in delivering accommodation.” 

Terms of reference 

The Home Affairs Committee invites written submissions on the following issues. The deadline for written submissions is Monday 3 February. To find out more information about submitting evidence please visit the asylum accommodation inquiry page.  

The delivery of asylum accommodation   

• The Home Office’s use and management of asylum accommodation contracts, including in response to growing demand and changing needs  
• The performance of providers delivering the current contracts on:  
  • Identifying and delivering appropriate accommodation  
  • Engaging and working with stakeholders  
  • Safeguarding and supporting the welfare of people in asylum accommodation  
  • Managing and sharing data  
• How the Home Office works with other Government departments and local authorities on housing supply issues   

The impact of current arrangements for asylum accommodation on local areas  

• The Home Office’s approach to the distribution of asylum accommodation at a regional and local level    
• The Home Office’s engagement and joint working with local authorities, local health services, NGOs and other local partners    
• The impact of the current approach to delivering asylum accommodation on local services   
• The Home Office’s approach to working with local partners to support people who have been granted refugee status and are leaving asylum accommodation 

Further information

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