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<p>Due to the unprecedented demand to accommodate asylum seekers who would otherwise
be destitute, we have had to use temporary accommodation such as hotels and other
large-scale sites to manage demands on the asylum estate. We are committed to working
with local authorities to move to a fairer distribution of asylum seekers and bring
an end to the use of hotels as contingency accommodation.</p><p>The Home Office has
therefore announced all local authority areas in England, Scotland and Wales will
be expected to participate in a new system of full dispersal to allow us to move away
from hotels to less expensive and more suitable accommodation. We have also announced
funding of approximately £3,500 per bedspace procured in this financial year to recognise
the pressures of accommodating asylum seekers on Local Authority areas.</p><p>The
Beaconside has been identified as a potential new site for Initial Accommodation as
the current site in the West Midlands is due to close shortly. Our accommodation provider,
Serco, are proceeding with the consultation on planning and once this is concluded
we will convene a Multi-Agency Forum to discuss operations on site. The Multi-Agency
forum will be made up of Home Office officials, along with the accommodation provider
and representatives from Stafford County Council, the police service, NHS, and Public
Health along with others from the voluntary sector. These meetings are an opportunity
for all members to discuss any ongoing issues and to share best practice.</p><p>Ministers
have also met with the Hon Member for Stafford who has expressed her concerns about
and opposition to the proposal.</p>
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