Asked by: Deirdre Costigan (Labour - Ealing Southall)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9670 on Sleeping Rough: Undocumented Migrants, whether her Department collects data on (a) no recourse to public funds amongst people sleeping rough and (b) undocumented migrants sleeping rough.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As outlined in the response to Question UIN 9670 on 21 October 2024, MHCLG does not publish data on no recourse to public funds amongst people sleeping rough and on undocumented migrants sleeping rough.
Asked by: Deirdre Costigan (Labour - Ealing Southall)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to optometry services for rough sleepers who are not eligible for full public funding due to their immigration status.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Individuals can apply for help with the cost of sight tests and glasses through the NHS low-income scheme. This includes people seeking asylum, refused asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support and some refugees who will be eligible for cost exemption certificates. Furthermore, NHS England have recently taken steps to ensure that having no fixed abode should not prevent access to sight tests.
The Department of Health and Social Care recognises the importance of reducing barriers to services for those experiencing rough sleeping. This is why we supported the development of NICE guidance which provides recommendations on ways to improve access to, and engagement with, health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness.
More broadly, there are some services that are free at the point of use for all patients regardless of immigration status. These include, for example, accident and emergency services.