Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Esther McVey and Priti Patel

Monday 28th February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel]

I completely reject the right hon. Lady’s latter point, and naturally I will always be happy to return to the House and take questions.

[Esther McVey (Tatton) (Con)]

Constituents in Tatton are increasingly concerned about the growing number and range of online fraud and scams, and the ability of Action Fraud to deal with them. Many of those crimes originate outside the UK, with some from hostile states such as Russia. What is the Minister doing to counter that?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Esther McVey and Priti Patel

Monday 22nd November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Esther McVey (Tatton) (Con)]

1. What plans she has for hotels used by her Department to accommodate asylum seekers.

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Priti Patel)]

The Department has long-term plans and proposals to change the way we accommodate asylum seekers.

[Esther McVey]

Residents of Tatton are concerned about the ongoing nature of supposedly temporary accommodation for immigrants who arrive in the local area. Some hotels are becoming full-time immigration centres and those residing there are in limbo in our town centres. What is the timescale for processing these individuals and for reverting the accommodation back into hotels?

[Priti Patel]

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right in her comments. Through changes linked to the new plan for immigration we will end the use of hotel accommodation for asylum seekers, which was a result of the pandemic—we had to take decisive action to ensure that those seeking asylum in the UK were protected under covid measures. It was a short-term solution and the new plan for immigration includes long-term changes in the offing for asylum accommodation.