LGA responds to asylum accommodation report

Responding to the Home Affairs Committee report into asylum accommodation, Cllr David Simmonds, Chairman of the Local Government Association's Asylum, Migration and Refugee Task Group, said;

"Councils have a strong track record in welcoming asylum seeking and refugee children, as well as their families, and many continue to work hard to support asylum dispersal alongside all the other schemes in current operation.

“Councils are stepping up to the plate with more than 200 local authorities becoming dispersal areas. We hope that the Government’s future contracts for asylum accommodation and support addresses the challenges in securing accommodation in other local authority areas, particularly where there is limited availability and high cost housing.

“It is pleasing that the report recognises that there are multiple schemes in operation for supporting refugees and asylum seekers in our local areas. However, it is vital that all these schemes are fully aligned and funded to ensure councils and their partners are able to offer support for vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers, whilst continuing to provide vital services for their local communities. 

“Councils are clear that continuing to have voluntary participation in these schemes is the best approach to meeting the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in their communities, and ensuring these communities are fully prepared to welcome new arrivals.”