§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Welsh Administration and Welsh local authorities about the implications of the Immigration and Asylum Bill for refugees in Wales. [89049]
Mr. Jon Owen JonesThe Home Office is in the lead on this matter, but Welsh Office officials have been directly involved in considering the strategic and operational implications for Wales from the outset.
Strategically, Welsh Office officials liaise with the Home Office and, together with the Welsh Local Government Association and Welsh Refugee Council, attend meetings of the Home Office Stakeholder Group.
Operationally, with particular regard to the proposed support and consortium arrangements, Welsh Office officials initiated consultation with interested parties in 209W Wales such as the WLGA, Local Authorities, the Welsh Refugee Council and other potential consortium agencies, and play an active part in the planning group which has arisen from this consultation.
Internally, a group drawing together all the relevant interests meets on a regular basis.
From 1 July, this role will fall to the National Assembly for Wales. I expect Assembly officials will continue to play an active and supportive role in conjunction with other interested parties to ensure that the implications of the Bill for Wales are fully considered and that the interests of Wales are fully taken into account.