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Written question asked by Lord Boateng (Labour) on Friday, 9 October 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 23 October 2020. It was answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford (Conservative) on Thursday, 22 October 2020 on behalf of the Home Office.

Asylum: Evictions

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the numbers of street homeless people of the Home Office’s decision to restart asylum evictions from 15 September in England; and what plans they have to delay the proposed extension of this policy to Scotland and Wales until the data to permit such an assessment is available.

Answer

We have worked, and continue to work, with colleagues at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to understand rough sleeping pressures within Local Authorities in England. We have considered guidance from MHCLG on the aforementioned pressures as part of the phased resumption of negative asylum support cessations.

Cases continue to be triaged for cessation in a manner that considers feedback and guidance from colleagues at MHCLG but above all considers that those receiving a cessation notification will have a route of return as well as access to assistance to leave the country through a Voluntary Returns Service without impacting on Local Authority rough sleeping pressures.

Discussions are ongoing with colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as to when negative asylum support cessations will resume in there.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL8967
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Asylum Homelessness Evictions Scotland Wales
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk