Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the issues with the Serco Group referred to in the letter from her Department, reference M560/20 have been resolved; and if she will give an update on the progress being made to reduce the use of contingency accommodation for asylum dispersal in the West Midlands.

The letter referred to in the questions (M560/20) was regarding the use of the Rowton Hotel as contingency accommodation and was responded to in February 2020.

Due to the Covid 19 crisis and the pause on cessations of asylum support there was a growth in the number of people needing accommodation and that in order to meet that growth, we would have to procure hotel accommodation as contingency and hotel use in Birmingham has continued. The use of hotels as contingency accommodation is temporary and once restrictions on movement are lifted, the providers will work to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable accommodation.

We will programme the reduction of the number of people in supported accommodation in a controlled manner. Consideration will be given to the needs of service users whilst balancing the impact of increased accommodation pressures on local authorities. We intend to work collaboratively with local authorities as we transition out of lockdown.