Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements exist to allow people (a) accommodated at temporary alternative asylum accommodation sites and (b) working at those sites, to leave from and return to the premises freely.

Asylum seekers accommodated are not detained and so are free to come and go, but are required to follow Covid-19 regulations (including observing a period of self-isolation where required in line with regulations). Movements in and out of sites are monitored and managed, for safety reasons. Asylum seekers are expected to stay in accommodation overnight, and a welfare call is made to anyone not on site by 10pm.

Those working at the sites are also free to come and go freely, again in line with Covid-19 regulations.

The Ministry of Defence has given permission to use the sites for 12 months. The use of contingency initial accommodation is temporary, and we will discontinue it as soon as we are able.