HL Deb 12 December 2002 vol 642 cc54-5WA
Baroness Williams of Crosby

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will consider making provision for single-sex accommodation for those women refugees who request it. [HL403]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Filkin)

Accommodation provided by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is on a "no choice basis". But each case is considered on its individual merits and NASS takes into account any information presented to it. This can include a request to be housed in single-sex accommodation. NASS has a range of accommodation ranging from full board hostels to self-contained flats and houses. NASS also uses houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). All HMOs provide single-sex accommodation but hostels may provide accommodation for both sexes and we cannot guarantee that all single women accommodated by NASS will be housed in single-sex accommodation.

In the trial of accommodation centres, it is intended that single women will be accommodated separately from families and single men and will not be expected to share facilities.