Written questions by Jopp.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2025 to Question 93579 on Asylum: Spelthorne, if she will set out how the Asylum Accommodation Plans take into account the number of asylum seekers accommodated in hotels when determining the balance of the distribution of asylum seekers across local authorities across the UK.

The Asylum Accommodation Plans ensure a fair and balanced distribution of asylum seekers across local authorities by considering existing accommodation pressures. Dispersal accommodation aims to replace hotels, using an evidence-based model, supported by local authority engagement and strategic planning.

Whether the Government is purchasing houses in multiple occupation in Spelthorne to accommodate asylum seekers.

The Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide accommodation and support to destitute asylum seekers while their claims are considered. The procurement and management of Asylum accommodation is undertaken via the accommodation providers and is conducted in line with the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts, which are available at: Contracts Finder - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).Procurement of accommodation by the contracted providers is undertaken in line with the Asylum Accommodation Plans, which ensures the distribution of asylum seekers is balanced across local authorities across the UK. This approach is designed to prevent any single area from being overburdened and to promote a fair, evidence-based allocation of asylum accommodation nationwide.

What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the use of catapults as offensive weapons.

The Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention chaired a meeting with concerned MPs and the Minister for Biosecurity, Borders and Animals at DEFRA to discuss this issue.We are clear that catapults should not be used against wildlife, property or people, and we are convening a roundtable to understand the problem better and to identify what more can be done.We are conducting a round table to consider the matter further.

What information her Department holds on the value of profits made by Corporate Travel Management under the Stanwell Hotel asylum contract; and whether any profits made have been returned to the Government.

The Home Office entered into an agreement with Corporate Travel Management (CTM) in April 2025. Accommodation at the Stanwell Hotel is provided as part of the contracted services.Given this contract has been in place for a short period of time, the first financial returns have not yet been provided to the Home Office. These will be made available to the Home Office for review at the next quarterly supplier relationship management board taking place shortly.The contract between the Home Office and CTM does not include profit share or commission share mechanisms.

Whether she plans to close the asylum hotel in Spelthorne constituency.

It has been the longstanding policy of the Home Office under successive governments not to disclose information about specific hotels which may or may not be used for asylum accommodation.However, the Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders to fulfil our statutory obligations and deliver our commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of hotels, by the end of this Parliament.

Whether her Department has agreed a new two-year contract to put asylum seekers in the Mercure Stanwell Hotel.

It has been the longstanding policy of the Home Office under successive governments not to disclose information about specific hotels which may or may not be used for asylum accommodation.However, the Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders to fulfil our statutory obligations and deliver our commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of hotels, by the end of this Parliament.

What steps her Department is taking to help prevent people residing in asylum hotels from taking up illegal employment.

This Government is determined to tackle illegal working, and since coming to office, we have increased the number of raids, arrests and fines against offenders to their highest level in almost a decade.We have also secured pledges from delivery firms to increase verification checks on their drivers, and introduced new legislation in the Border Security Bill to make employment checks mandatory in the gig economy. It remains very disappointing that the party opposite chose to vote against those crucial measures.

What stages of recruitment are still to be completed for the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration role.

The Home Affairs Select Committee’s pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate took place on 11 February.Once Ministers have finalised the appointment and the terms of appointment have been agreed, the new ICIBI will be announced in the normal way.Ministers agreed to extend David Bolt’s appointment term as interim ICIBI for a further period of up to three months, to enable sufficient time to conclude the recruitment process for a permanent ICIBI and ensure a smooth transition.

How many people who are subject to a live deportation order have applied under the EU Settlement Scheme in Spelthorne.

The information requested is not available from published statistics.

What recent progress has been made to replace the Action Fraud website with an upgraded reporting system hosted by the City of London Police.

The Home Office are working with the City of London Police to replace Action Fraud with a new and improved national police reporting service for fraud and cyber crime.The new service will provide better support services and reporting tools for victims, provide greater intelligence to law enforcement, and allow for greater prevention and disruption at scale.  This will include an upgraded call centre and a new user-friendly, accessible website for reporting fraud, offering simpler pathways to support and guidance.A phased introduction of the new service is underway and will continue throughout 2025.The first phase, completed in November 2024, saw the introduction of the new crime and intelligence management system. This will improve the analysis of reports, the quality of intelligence drawn from them, and how quickly this is sent to police forces for investigation.