Twenty-Fifth Report - Asylum accommodation and support transformation programme

The government accepted the recommendation with a target date of February 2021, committing to reduce hotel use by procuring more dispersed accommodation and accelerating procurement plans, while also moving people with concluded asylum claims out of accommodation.

The government agrees with the committee's finding and is considering a wide range of options for future accommodation models, improving current contract operations, and managing existing contracts closely to recover from pandemic impacts. Decisions on future changes will be made within recommended timelines.

The government is revising contract management structures to ensure defined roles and sufficient resources, developing more robust operating procedures with training, and improving information capture and sharing.

The government accepted the recommendation with a target date of July 2021, stating that summary performance data is already being shared and that they are developing a customer insight dashboard and other sources of performance insight for stakeholders.

The government accepted the recommendation with a target date of February 2021, confirming it is developing a safeguarding assurance framework in collaboration with providers and stakeholders. It outlined the establishment of a joint safeguarding board, a national safeguarding forum with local authorities, and local safeguarding groups.

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

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.

The government agrees and plans to restart paused "open book accounting" work in 2021. It is also strengthening contract management by revising structures, developing robust operating procedures, and improving information capture and sharing based on external expert advice.

The government agrees and plans to restart paused "open book accounting" work in 2021. It is also strengthening contract management by revising structures, developing robust operating procedures, and improving information capture and sharing based on external expert advice.

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.

The government stated that work on using the 'open book accounting' clause to assess provider profits has been temporarily paused due to system stress but intends to restart this work in 2021, looking back through the operational period. It is also strengthening contract management and revising structures.

The department agrees to greater transparency, stating it is already sharing summary performance data and developing customer experience surveys, data analysis, and a customer insight dashboard for stakeholders. It is also working with local authorities to define and deliver further data sharing.

The government is committed to reducing and ending hotel accommodation by procuring more dispersed accommodation, engaging local authorities, and accelerating procurement plans. It is currently assessing the rate of reduction and expected timescale for eliminating regular hotel use.

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.

The government is committed to reducing and ending routine hotel use by procuring more dispersed accommodation and moving on those whose asylum claims are concluded, while currently assessing the rate and timescale for eliminating regular hotel use.

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.

The government acknowledged the communication issues, stating it has taken further steps to improve engagement, is consulting stakeholders, and conducting lessons learned exercises. This work will inform a Directorate Engagement Strategy to be shared.

The government acknowledges that established engagement mechanisms have not always met stakeholder needs, especially during the pandemic. It has taken steps to improve engagement, is consulting stakeholders, conducting lessons learned exercises, and will reflect this in a new Directorate Engagement Strategy.

The government acknowledges engagement mechanisms have not always met stakeholder needs and is taking steps to improve engagement through consulting stakeholders, conducting lessons learned, and developing a Directorate Engagement Strategy, but does not explicitly commit to contacting local health services before relocating asylum seekers.

The government agrees with the committee's finding and, in response, is taking steps to improve engagement with stakeholders and local partners through consultation, lessons learned exercises, and the development of a Directorate Engagement Strategy to address identified shortcomings.

The government rejects tracking safeguarding by KPI but is implementing a safeguarding assurance framework, including a joint safeguarding board, a national safeguarding forum with local authorities, and local safeguarding groups involving police and other partners to ensure welfare.

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.

The government rejects the idea of a specific key performance indicator for safeguarding, stating it wouldn't meaningfully capture the wide range of activities. It details existing efforts to work with partners and stakeholders to develop a safeguarding assurance framework, without committing to its publication.