Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provisions he plans to make in the new asylum accommodation contracts to ensure that pregnant women and new mothers have access to adequate maternity care and advice.

Under the new asylum accommodation contracts, Providers will be contractually required to take account of the needs of all those that they accommodate, including expectant mothers.

The contract will also ensure that standardised health checks are undertaken whilst Service Users are accommodated in Initial Accommodation and Providers will also be contractually responsible for securing GP registrations for Service Users. This service, where necessary, will include facilitating and providing assistance to attend medical appointments.