Sep. 26 2024
Source Page: The Historical Roots of the Windrush ScandalSep. 26 2024
Source Page: The Historical Roots of the Windrush ScandalSep. 26 2024
Source Page: Stop and search, arrests and mental health detentions, March 2024Sep. 26 2024
Source Page: Stop and search, arrests and mental health detentions, March 2024Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many units of accommodation, including hotel rooms, (1) are currently being used to house persons who have submitted claims for asylum in the United Kingdom; and (2) they have reserved or acquired to accommodate those who may yet arrive and seek asylum in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has a statutory obligation to support and accommodate asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. It does not publish a breakdown of statistics which disaggregates asylum accommodation costs by type.
The total expenditure on asylum is published in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, available at HO annual reports and accounts.
Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent stats release at Gov.UK.
The government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly, and fairly including reducing the use of hotels over time. Additionally, the Government will be reviewing current Home Office arrangements to ensure efficiency and deliver value for money.
Asked by: Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that all seasonal worker scheme operators have complied with the requirement that all workers must receive a minimum of 32 hours’ pay for each week of their stay in the UK; and what plans they have, if any, to investigate scheme operator practice to ensure compliance with this requirement.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has a designated Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS) team that regularly conducts visits to individual farms employing seasonal migrant workers. Checks are undertaken to ensure workers are offered a minimum of 32 hours employment per week and are paid at the appropriate rates.
Scheme operators that are responsible for the recruitment of the migrant workers are obliged to retain records of working hours and wages and these are inspected annually by sponsorship compliance officers. If discrepancies are discovered, then the SWS team will commence action against the respective scheme operator. This can include suspension or revocation of an operator’s licence.
From March 2023 to date, 241 farm visits have been conducted and 1,700 migrant workers interviewed. We will continue to consider how best to tackle labour exploitation in the Seasonal Worker Scheme.