Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what support was provided to those released from immigration removal centres as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We remain committed to providing support and accommodation to those who need it. In light of the pandemic, we have introduced temporary measures to continue supporting those who would normally have had their accommodation and financial assistance stopped until at least the end of June when we will review the situation.

We are ensuring local authorities are supported, with £3.2 million in targeted funding to help support individuals who are sleeping rough off the streets, and an additional £3.2 billion provided to local authorities as part of the wider government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding has been provided to help local authorities to reduce risks to public health and to support individuals on the basis of need.

In addition, local authorities may provide basic safety net support, regardless of immigration status, if it is established that there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution, for example, where there are community care needs, migrants with serious health problems or family cases where the wellbeing of a child is in question.

The legal position on those with no recourse to public funds has not been amended. People granted refugee status in the United Kingdom are able to access the mainstream benefits in the same way as a British Citizen.

Asylum seekers who would otherwise be unable to support themselves are provided with accommodation and financial assistance to meet their essential living needs.

Individuals released from immigration detention will usually be subject to certain conditions which may require a person to report to a Home Office reporting centre at regular intervals or to remain living at the same address. Any foreign national offender released into the community on bail is subject to conditions and additional monitoring is available, including electronic tagging and telephone contact.