HC Deb 30 January 2001 vol 362 cc169-71W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the NASS has been notified, following an inspection by a local environmental health officer, that NASS-contracted accommodation is of an unacceptable standard; if he will provide details in respect of each case of notification; and if he will make a statement. [148024]

Mrs. Roche

We have received one formal notice that a property is not in compliance with the local authority regulations. This is a preliminary notification received from Liverpool city council of an intention to issue an enforcement notice regarding overcrowding.

The National Asylum Support Service has also been made aware of 17 cases contained in a report received from Manchester city council where the local authority was proposing to issue notices should remedial work not be carried out by the landlord.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the units of accommodation inspected directly by the NASS were found to be(a) of an acceptable standard and (b) of an unacceptable standard; and if he will make a statement. [148025]

Mrs. Roche

Of the properties inspected 18 have been found to be unacceptable and removed from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) database until brought up to a standard acceptable to NASS.

2,290 properties have been inspected and found to be either acceptable or requiring remedial works that are not such to render the property unacceptable.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what enforcement action the NASS has taken to ensure that its contractors comply with statutory and contractual standards of accommodation and management; and if he will make a statement. [148026]

Mrs. Roche

The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has a dedicated team of contract managers to ensure that all providers of accommodation meet their statutory and contractual obligations. A Performance Monitoring Inspections team, which monitors housing management procedures, supplements the work of these officials. NASS has also engaged the services of Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE) to provide professional property advice and support. Where necessary NASS commissions surveys and inspections from third-party building surveyors.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the units of accommodation procured by the NASS have been inspected since 1 April 2000 by(a) the NASS performance monitoring inspection teams, (b) the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate and (c) local environmental health officers; and if he will make a statement. [148023]

Mrs. Roche

(a) 445 properties have been inspected by the Performance Monitoring Teams since going live on 1 October 2000.

(b) As of 26 January 2001, 3,308 properties have been inspected by the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE) which represent 100 per cent. of the private sector contracts that were on the database on 1 October 2000 and 5 per cent. of the public sector provided property.

Of the property that has been added to the database since 1 October, 55 per cent. has been inspected in the private sector and 5 per cent. of the public sector properties.

(c) We are unable to give information on how many properties have been inspected by the local authority environmental health officers since their findings are sent to the landlords and not the National Asylum Support Service.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received by the NASS about the standards of accommodation, management or support provided by the NASS accommodation providers; if he will provide details of each complaint; and if he will make a statement. [148027]

Mrs. Roche

The Performance Monitoring Inspections (PMI) Team of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has received 196 complaints about standards of accommodation, housing management or support services. Information on the details of individual complaints could be provided only at disproportionate cost but typical complaints include: quantity/quality/type of food, problems with heating/hot water systems, general condition of accommodation or furnishings and problems accessing local health/education services. NASS has worked with refugee organisations to develop a referral process and form to assist supported persons with raising accommodation related issues with NASS.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate are asked to use when inspecting the standards of accommodation procured by the NASS; if they are asked to take into account the standard of accommodation in relation to the needs of the occupants; and if he will make a statement. [148028]

Mrs. Roche

The criteria used is that contained in the Contract Specification and the requirement of the provider to comply with all Acts of Parliament and regulations made by local authorities. The standard applied is the higher of the two.

There is no brief to take into account the specific needs of individual occupants, the accommodation being general housing provision and not special needs housing.