Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the criteria used by (a) UK Visas and Immigration and (b) providers of asylum accommodation to assess the vulnerability of tenants.

The Asylum Seekers (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2005 provide that in considering whether to provide support under Section 95 and 98 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to asylum seekers or their family members, account must be taken of their special needs if they are vulnerable. The Regulations define a vulnerable person as:

• A minor
• A disabled person
• An elderly person
• A pregnant woman
• A person who has been subjected to torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence;
• A person who has had an individual evaluation of his situation that confirms he/she has special needs.

Accommodation providers are also contractually required to take account of any particular circumstances and vulnerability of those that they accommodate. The definition of vulnerability in the contracts is the same as the one set out in the 2005 Regulations.

The particular circumstances of other supported asylum seekers and their dependants who may have other particular vulnerabilities are also carefully considered, for example because they have care needs or health problems that require a need for a specific type of accommodation or accommodation in a particular location. Further details regarding these policies can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-accommodation-requests-policy

https://horizon.fcos.gsi.gov.uk/file-wrapper/asylum-seekers-care-needs

https://horizon.fcos.gsi.gov.uk/file-wrapper/healthcare-needs-and-pregnancy-dispersal-guidance