Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of using dispersal accommodation for asylum seekers on the availability of housing for British citizens.

Under the Immigration Act of 1999, any government has a legal obligation to provide accommodation to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute.

The Home Office and its accommodation providers work closely with local authorities across the country to ensure that local context, expertise and intelligence informs decision making regarding suitability of dispersed accommodation. Full Dispersal facilitates the procurement of dispersed accommodation in a fair, balanced and controlled manner.

The Home Office remains committed to working collaboratively with local authorities to ensure that any potential impact on local communities and areas are understood and minimised.