To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to asylum seekers being moved from contingency accommodation to dispersal accommodation, whether her Department automatically prioritises (a) pregnant women and (b) other vulnerable groups.
Answered on
18 October 2022
Home Office data relating to the supported asylum seeking population does not record the demographics of those moving into, or out of, contingency accommodation in a way which would provide the information requested.
The Home Office has clear policy guidance on the allocation of asylum accommodation and consideration of healthcare and pregnancy needs when moving individuals on asylum support into dispersal accommodation. Our published policies on these matters can be found at: Allocation of accommodation policy (publishing.service.gov.uk) and Healthcare and pregnancy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The Home Office will consider those with healthcare needs, including mental health issues when dispersing. This may include a need to be accommodated in a particular location, or in a certain type of accommodation, or in some cases whether ongoing treatment for a medical condition might require that dispersal is deferred. For pregnancy, the whole of a woman’s pregnancy, labour and her postnatal period will be taken into account when considering accommodation moves.