Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a hardship fund to help the Windrush generation migrants with legal costs and other bills as a result of his Department's immigration policy.

The first priority for any Windrush migrants that may have experienced problems in obtaining documents confirming their immigration status is to help them secure that status. That is why the Government quickly established the Windrush Taskforce, which has a dedicated team for vulnerable people.

The Taskforce has established a fast-track service for the payment of benefits, working closely in a co-ordinated manner with DWP.

The Government continues to urge any affected people to come forward to the Taskforce so that we can help them. Where people are identified as being homeless, wherever possible the Home Office has worked with Local Authorities to secure temporary accommodation.

A compensation scheme for those of the Windrush generation that might have been affected is in the process of being established. The call for evidence for that scheme ended on 8 June and the Home Office are now preparing to launch the next stage of consultation, working with affected communities. The scheme will be set up as soon as possible after we have consulted.