Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what directions and support they give to Local Housing Authorities in order for asylum seekers to be housed; and whether asylum seekers take priority over local people on housing waiting lists.

The Home Office is responsible for delivering asylum policy and ensuring eligible destitute asylum seekers are accommodated.

Eligibility for social housing in England is tightly controlled. If a person's immigration status does not allow them recourse to public funds then they are not eligible for an allocation of social housing. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

Where foreign nationals are eligible, they will have their housing needs considered on the same basis as other eligible applicants in accordance with the local council’s housing allocation scheme. People who are homeless, in overcrowded housing or who need to move for medical reasons are prioritised.