Dr Luke Evans MP has met with Alex Norris, the Immigration Minister, to raise residents' concerns about the Labour Government's decision to use dispersal accommodation to house asylum seekers.
**You can read a formal readout of the meeting by clicking the pdf the bottom of this article**
The Member of Parliament for Hinckley and Bosworth, Dr Evans, secured the meeting after raising his community's significant concerns with the Immigration Minister in the House of Commons recently.
Dr Evans raised worries about the number of properties, particularly in Hinckley, being converted into HMOs and spoke about the impact this is having on local communities. He also highlighted concerns around migrants being moved from hotels into houses within communities.
Dr Evans had proactively raised the issue with the Home Office and local councils after many residents contacted him about the growing number of HMO conversions in the area.
During the meeting, Dr Evans told the Minister of issues raised both locally and nationally about the way Serco are implementing changes under the Labour Government and the framework by the Home Office.
In a letter sent to Dr Evans following the meeting, a Home Office official said "using dispersed accommodation is a central part of the Government’s approach to reduce reliance on hotels and move towards a more sustainable and cost-effective system."
Dr Evans raised local concerns about the procurement of HMOs within the constituency with the Minister, asking for details on the process. In the letter sent after the meeting, he was told "I want to... provide reassurance that Local Authorities are involved early in the process, before any property is agreed.
"We are committed to securing the accommodation we need while taking proper account of local circumstances and community impact," the letter goes on to state. "As you mentioned in the meeting, a good example of this is the decision to stop further procurement in the LE10 0 and LE10 1 postcode areas."
Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Hinckley and Bosworth, said "I know many residents are concerned about the increasing number of properties being converted into HMOs in Hinckley, Earl Shilton, Barwell and the wider area. There are real questions about how these properties are being used and the impact on our communities.
"I raised this in Parliament earlier this year, and have finally had my meeting with the Immigration Minister where I was able to reiterate concerns shared with me around how the Home Office is using properties like HMOs to disperse asylum seekers across the country.
"As you will see from this letter, the Government has made a decision to use dispersal accommodation and will not be changing its position. I disagree with this, as I know many people do, and will continue to make representations to the Government to change its policy.
"Ultimately, responsibility lies between the Home Office and Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council. As you will also see from the letter, the Borough Council are in contact with the Home Office about whether a property is suitable. I welcome the commitment from the Home Office to strengthen this process, and will assess the effectiveness of this when it is in place.
"During my meeting with the Minister, I was told that the Home Office have stopped further procurement in the LE10 0 and LE10 1 postcodes. This is confirmed in the letter, and I will be following up with the Borough Council on the outcome of their meeting."
