Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of security measures in place at hotels used for asylum accommodation; and whether such measures are consistent across all sites.

The Home Office, and wider government, work closely with Local Authorities to discuss proposed accommodation sites in their area. Each site has its own property and planning requirements which must be complied with. The Home Office ensures that all accommodation is safe, fit for purpose and meets all regulatory requirements.

As part of its assurance processes, the Home Office conducts regular inspections and monitoring of asylum accommodation sites to ensure compliance with contractual and safety standards. These checks include reviewing security arrangements, staffing levels, and physical infrastructure such as fencing and lighting. Feedback from local authorities and service users is also considered to inform improvements.

All sites have security staff, but the numbers vary depending upon the size of the sites. Some sites have additional measures including fencing installed to reduce access and unmanned access points to sites.

The Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract (AASC) Requirements below gives a detailed breakdown of all the services to be undertaken by our accommodation providers and to the standards we expect. Full details of this can be found here: AASC Schedule 2 - Statement of Requirements.