Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to house refugees currently living in hotels.

Work is continuing across Government to ensure the Afghans who stood side by side with us in conflict, their families and those at highest risk who have been evacuated, are supported as they now rebuild their lives in the UK.

We are working closely alongside all councils to provide accommodation and support for Afghans in need of our compassion and support to rebuild their lives in the UK.

We are conscious of pressures on the housing market across the country. That said, we think by working closely with councils we can work effectively to continue to support moves into settled accommodation.

One example of the work we are doing is a new private rented sector (PRS) accommodation route. This route is being scoped to support people to source their own accommodation. Our engagement with Afghan families has suggested that there is appetite amongst the cohort for independent house-hunting, with the right support. Options are being defined and tested, including working with local government partners to consider what role they might play in supporting this more independent property sourcing pathway.