Asylum: Housing
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration her Department gives to the capacity of local health providers when determining the viability of asylum accommodation sites.
Answered by Alex Norris
Asylum seekers have access to NHS healthcare from their point of arrival in the UK. They are entitled to the same level of treatment as UK nationals whilst their claim is being considered.
Military sites allow for dedicated on-site services, improved safeguarding, and greater oversight - reducing demand on local resources such as healthcare, reducing disruption to local communities and ensuring public safety. Key health provisions and safeguarding interventions are delivered on-site.
The Home Office, in partnership with local government works to ensure that asylum accommodation is spread equitably and fairly across the United Kingdom. Procurement of accommodation is driven by a set of evidence-based plans, which are refreshed every six months and consider a range of factors, including the availability of housing, pressure on Health service provision and community cohesion, to ensure that no one area is overburdened.
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