Covid-19: Support and Accommodation for Asylum Seekers Debate

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Department: Home Office

Covid-19: Support and Accommodation for Asylum Seekers

Anthony Mangnall Excerpts
Monday 29th June 2020

(4 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chris Philp Portrait Chris Philp
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The reason for the rapid move, which we discussed earlier, around about the end of March, was the unsuitable conditions in the serviced apartments. That is why those 321 people were moved. As I said, it has been successful in that not a single one of the people moved into hotels in Glasgow has tested positive for coronavirus.

The right hon. Lady asked about the financial element. When someone is in dispersed accommodation or a serviced department, they get the allowance, which is principally to cover food and some other essentials. When they move into a hotel, all those things like food, the hand sanitiser she referred to, hygiene products, laundry services and so on are provided by the hotel, removing the need for the cash grant.

Anthony Mangnall Portrait Anthony Mangnall (Totnes) (Con)
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I, too, associate myself with your remarks at the start of the debate, Mr Speaker, to the people of Glasgow and the victims of last week’s atrocious act. This Government have been committed to supporting asylum seekers and children. What steps will the Minister’s Department take to assure councils of future support mechanisms for children?