Mr. MatinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what efforts are made to prepare a local population for the reception of dispersed asylum seekers in their area prior to arrival of the asylum seekers; and what guidance is given by his Department on this. [124117]
§ Beverley HughesThe Home Office National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has systems in place to ensure local authorities and other agencies in an area to which asylum seekers are to be sent for the first time are fully consulted to minimise the risk of asylum seekers being placed inappropriately in an area.
However, I do not believe this is appropriate and in future NASS staff will be responsible for ensuring that consultation and a joint approach is developed at local level. Primarily, this will be achieved by the regionalisation of NASS, a process ensuring the successive devolution of NASS staff and functions to regional offices. This will enable the dialogue and joint work with regional consortia, local authorities other agencies and NASS to develop.
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