The Home Office has committed to reducing the number of hotels used to house asylum seekers, with nine hotels scheduled to close by the end of March, according to Minister Dame Angela Eagle. Speaking during a session of Home Office questions in the House of Commons, Eagle outlined the government’s ongoing efforts to reform the asylum system, which includes improving asylum processing and establishing a Border Security Command to tackle people-smuggling operations.
Eagle informed Members of Parliament (MPs) that while there has been a net increase of six hotels in use since the general election, the closure of nine hotels by the end of March would mark a step toward reducing reliance on hotel accommodation for asylum seekers. “The Government is committed to reducing hotel use through reform of the asylum system,” she stated.
When questioned by Conservative MP Sir Ashley Fox, who raised concerns over the overall increase in hotel usage despite the government’s policies, Eagle acknowledged that the issue would take time to resolve due to the large backlog of asylum claims. She assured MPs that significant efforts were being made to close hotels and reduce the number of asylum seekers in hotel accommodation. “We are working very, very hard to close hotels,” Eagle emphasized.
The announcement of hotel closures comes as part of broader efforts by the government to manage the rising number of asylum seekers and improve the efficiency of the asylum process. However, the issue has sparked concerns about the impact on the well-being of asylum seekers, with some MPs highlighting the mental strain on families living in asylum hotels for extended periods.
In addition to the hotel closures, Dame Angela Eagle responded to questions regarding the pause on Syrian asylum claims. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart raised the case of a Syrian family who had been waiting in limbo for nine months in an asylum hotel. Eagle explained that the temporary pause on Syrian asylum claims was due to the ongoing instability in Syria. She assured MPs that the situation was being closely monitored, and once conditions improved, the government would resume processing the claims.
The Home Office minister’s comments reflect the government’s approach to managing asylum claims, balancing security concerns with humanitarian efforts. While the commitment to closing hotels is a step in the right direction, the long-term resolution to asylum accommodation issues remains a challenge that requires careful management and reform.
Sources BY Agencies
