Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether in setting the requirements for asylum accommodation and support contracts he has complied with section 1 of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and considered (a) how (i) those contracts might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the areas in which asylum seekers will be accommodated and (ii) he might act with a view to securing that improvement and (b) whether to undertake a consultation on those matters; and if he will make a statement.

Over the last two years, and in accordance with the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, the Home Office has engaged extensively with a wide range of stakeholders and partners to develop the strategy and requirements for the next generation contracts.

This engagement has utilised various approaches including 1-2-1s, workshops and a written exercise. Information gleaned from this allowed the project team to build on lessons learned from the existing COMPASS arrangements. Through the Home Office funded Strategic Migration Partnerships, we bring together national, regional and local public sectors to coordinate activity to deal with effects of the immigration system on local economies and communities.