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<p>The Home Office and its accommodation providers are not statutory providers or
commissioners of healthcare. Therefore, they do not have systematic access to health
or medical data of asylum seekers. They would not be immediately aware if an asylum
seeker was on an NHS waiting list for treatment unless this information had been submitted
to them either directly and consensually by a supported asylum seeker or via Migrant
Help.</p><p>Section 97(3A) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 sets out factors
that may be considered when deciding the type of accommodation to allocate to asylum
seekers and failed asylum seekers in need of support. The overriding principle when
allocating accommodation is that it is offered on a ‘no choice basis’. However, requests
from asylum seekers on asylum support to be accommodated in a particular location
are considered under the Home Office Allocation of Asylum Accommodation Policy. All
requests should be considered on a case by case basis, balancing that overarching
principle that accommodation is offered on a ‘no choice basis’ against the strength
of the exceptional circumstances that might make it appropriate to agree to the request
to provide accommodation in a particular location.</p>
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