Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure complaints submitted by asylum seekers to G4S sub-contractors have been passed on to G4S by those sub-contractors.

The COMPASS contract lays down requirements for accommodation standards and for the receipt of enquiries and complaints from service users. The providers are contractually required to provide safe, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped accommodation to comply with relevant mandatory and statutory requirements in relation to housing, including the Housing Act 2004 and the Decent Home standards.

G4S provide a 24-hour helpline which provides support, advice and opportunity to raise complaints for service users. In addition, G4S and the Home Office conduct regular accommodation inspections across G4S’ property portfolio which presents the opportunity to ensure appropriate accommodation standards are being met and that service users are getting the right level of service.