Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many sub-contractors are managed by SERCO in respect of (a) housing, (b) clothing and (c) feeding asylum seekers who are resident in temporary hotel accommodation as of 22 November 2022; and if she will make an assessment of whether those sub-contractors have adequate (i) skills and (ii) experience to meet her Department's requirements for these services.

The Home Office expects the highest standards from our accommodation providers, who are contractually obliged to provide adequate accommodation and to conduct regular quality assurance checks across the asylum estate. The standards of accommodation and service are set out within the Asylum Accommodation & Support Contracts (AASC). Details of the AASC can be found at: New asylum accommodation contracts awarded - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)

Robust compliance and governance protocols exist to ensure that the providers’ operational delivery and overall performance consistently meet the required standards. If any issues are identified providers are required to redress concerns.