UK Inquiry Tracker

Asylum accommodation and support transformation programme

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 7 Sep 2020 Closed: 25 Mar 2021 Parliament page

The Home Office designed the 2019-2029 asylum seeker accommodation and support contracts to improve services for asylum seekers and their families while their applications for asylum in the UK are being considered. These replaced the previous COMPASS contracts for asylum seeker support with seven similar regional contracts for accommodation and … Read more The Home Office designed the 2019-2029 asylum seeker accommodation and support contracts to improve services for asylum seekers and their families while their applications for asylum in the UK are being considered. These replaced the previous COMPASS contracts for asylum seeker support with seven similar regional contracts for accommodation and transport, and a new national helpline and support service called AIRE. In the three months from July and October 2019, the number of asylum seekers in short-term accommodation increased by 96% - from 1,678 to 3,289. Most people were moved from this initial, short-term, accommodation into longer-term housing within a few weeks, although some have stayed much longer. Between September 2019 and February 2020, the average time spent in initial accommodation was 26 days, in line with Home Office expectations - but 981 people who had arrived by the end of December 2019 stayed in that initial, temporary accommodation for at least 86 days, during which time they are not able to register with a GP practice or enrol their children into school. The AIRE service failed its users in its early months and despite some improvements, the service has not yet delivered consistently acceptable performance. The contractor, Migrant Help, expected to receive 21,400 calls per month to the AIRE helpline, but received more than twice this number. As a result, only a fifth of helpline calls were answered. Although call waiting times have improved since Migrant Help recruited more staff, other AIRE services have not met standards set by the Home Office. For example, Migrant Help also took on average three to four times longer than expected to complete application forms for failed asylum seekers who were facing destitution. Following a request by local authorities, the Home Office agreed that by 2029 the regional distribution of supported asylum seekers would be in line with the UK regional population - that would mean more than doubling the number of accommodated asylum seekers in the south of England. The Department has not calculated what this might cost, but given higher accommodation costs in the south, the NAO estimates that it could be an extra £80 million. This is in addition to price increases that the Department may have to negotiate with providers if the number of accommodated asylum seekers increases beyond limits in the contracts. The NAO report on asylum accommodation and support therefore finds that, despite asylum accommodation and support contracts being replaced with less disruption than last time, it is not clear whether the new, more costly £4 billion contracts will give value for money, with some providers initially failing to meet Home Office standards. The NAO recommends that the Home Office should collaborate with providers to address early performance issues and to meet its future aims for the service. The Department needs to work with Migrant Help to improve the performance of the AIRE helpline and secure better outcomes in other areas, such as inductions for new arrivals. In addition, the Home Office should review whether asylum seekers who have been in initial, short-term accommodation for some time are being offered longer-term accommodation at the same rate as recent arrivals. In early October we will question senior Home Office officials on the services and accommodation provided to asylum seekers in the UK, and attempts to improve it. If you have evidence on the issues raised in this inquiry please submit it here by Thursday 1st October 2020. Show less

6 Recommendations

18 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

5 Letters

1 Event

Activity timeline 8 events

16 Apr
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Matthew Rycroft CB, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, re Treasury Minute response to the Committee’s report on the asyl…

25 Mar
2021

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Twenty fifth report from Session 2019-21

16 Mar
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Matthew Rycroft CBE, Permanent Secretary Home Office, re Recommendation 1, Twenty-Fifth Report of Session 2019-21: Asyl…

8 Mar
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from PAC Chair Meg Hillier to Matthew Rycroft CBE, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, re Treasury Minute response to the Comm…

12 Jan
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, re Twenty-Fifth Report of Session 2019-21 Asylum Accommodation and S…

20 Nov
2020

Report published

Twenty-Fifth Report - Asylum accommodation and support transformation programme

20 Oct
2020

Correspondence

Correspondence from Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, re Home Office Asylum Accommodation and Support, dated 15 October 20…

1 Oct
2020

Oral evidence

Asylum accommodation and support transformation programme

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

1 Oct 2020

View on parliament.uk

Asylum accommodation and support transformation programme

Matthew Rycroft CBE · Home Office Sean Palmer · Home Office Shona Dunn · Home Office

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Twenty-Fifth Report - Asylum accommodation and support transform…	HC 683	20 Nov 2020	24	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

7 results

1 Conclusion Not Addressed

Twenty-Fifth Report - Asylum accom…

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Home Office (the Department) about asylum accommodation and support services in the UK.2

Government Response

The government's response acknowledges the committee's report, stating it is the government's official response to the findings.

HM Treasury

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7 Conclusion Not Addressed

Twenty-Fifth Report - Asylum accom…

As well as call volumes, we asked whether the AIRE service had underestimated the length...

As well as call volumes, we asked whether the AIRE service had underestimated the length of each call. The Department had historical data that suggested calls would take between 12 and 17 minutes. In contrast, Migrant Help based its bid … Read more

Government Response

The government's response, despite stating agreement with a 'recommendation,' discusses considering future models for asylum seeker accommodation and improving current contracts, including recovering from pandemic impacts. It does not specifically address the committee's observations regarding the AIRE service's call capacity, underestimated call length, or its stated improvements.

HM Treasury

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10 Conclusion Not Addressed

Twenty-Fifth Report - Asylum accom…

The Department expected providers to be able to share data as part of the new...

The Department expected providers to be able to share data as part of the new contracts, to make sure they are providing the service expected for asylum seekers. The contracts required an automated link for issue reporting between the AIRE … Read more

Government Response

The government response discusses improving general engagement mechanisms with stakeholders and developing a Directorate Engagement Strategy, but it does not address the Committee's specific conclusion regarding the lack of automated data sharing links between AIRE and accommodation providers.

HM Treasury

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12 Conclusion

Twenty-Fifth Report - Asylum accom…

We examined the Windrush scandal in March 2019 and found that the Department lacked understanding...

We examined the Windrush scandal in March 2019 and found that the Department lacked understanding of the needs of applicants for compensation, did not monitor the impact of its ‘compliant environment’ policy on vulnerable members of society and had not … Read more

HM Treasury

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15 Conclusion Not Addressed

Twenty-Fifth Report - Asylum accom…

The Department explained that its aim was for as few service users as possible to...

The Department explained that its aim was for as few service users as possible to be accommodated in hotels and that those who do spend as little time as possible in hotels once they are there.37 The Department expected providers … Read more

Government Response

The government's response commits to reducing and ending routine hotel accommodation use by procuring more dispersed accommodation and moving on those with concluded asylum claims. However, it does not specifically address the committee's observation regarding provider incentives or the penalty structure for lengthy hotel stays.

HM Treasury

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17 Conclusion Not Addressed

Twenty-Fifth Report - Asylum accom…

The Department told us that it currently accommodated asylum seekers in hotels in approximately 50...

The Department told us that it currently accommodated asylum seekers in hotels in approximately 50 local authorities. It noted that whenever it arranges for a hotel to be used for asylum accommodation, it instructs its relevant teams to contact the … Read more

Government Response

The government response discusses improving general engagement mechanisms with stakeholders and local authorities. However, it does not specifically address the Committee's concern about the lack of timely notification to local authorities and MPs regarding the use of hotels for asylum accommodation.

HM Treasury

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23 Conclusion Not Addressed

Twenty-Fifth Report - Asylum accom…

The Department told us that 429 asylum seekers had been tested for COVID-19, 122 of...

The Department told us that 429 asylum seekers had been tested for COVID-19, 122 of whom had tested positive.63 In its letter to us after our evidence session, the Department further explained that of those that had tested positive, 29 … Read more

Government Response

Although the government states it agrees with the recommendation (despite the item being a conclusion), its response focuses on reducing and ending the routine use of hotel accommodation and increasing dispersed accommodation, rather than addressing the specific observations about COVID-19 testing, management difficulties during the pandemic, or safe procedures for stopping support for ineligible asylum seekers.

HM Treasury

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Government Response AI assessment · 23 of 6 classified

Accepted 10

Accepted in Part 3

Acknowledged 2

Deferred 1

Not Addressed 6

Rejected 1

Total 6 recs + 18 conclusions

Correspondence 5 letters

16 Apr 2021 Correspondence from Matthew Rycroft CB, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, re Treasury Minute response to the Committee’s report on the asylum accommodation and support transformation programme, dated 8 April 2021

Parliament page

16 Mar 2021 Correspondence from Matthew Rycroft CBE, Permanent Secretary Home Office, re Recommendation 1, Twenty-Fifth Report of Session 2019-21: Asylum Accommodation and Support Transformation Programme, dated 2 March 2021

Parliament page

8 Mar 2021 Correspondence from PAC Chair Meg Hillier to Matthew Rycroft CBE, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, re Treasury Minute response to the Committee’s report on the asylum accommodation and support transformation programme

Parliament page

12 Jan 2021 Correspondence from Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, re Twenty-Fifth Report of Session 2019-21 Asylum Accommodation and Support Transformation Programme, dated 04 January 2021

Parliament page

20 Oct 2020 Correspondence from Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, re Home Office Asylum Accommodation and Support, dated 15 October 2020

Parliament page