The Home Office does not routinely publish data on its inspection activity.<\/p>
Local Authorities are actively engaged in the inspection and monitoring of properties used by asylum seekers and we welcome their input and expertise. In the first instance we expect Providers to develop close working relationships with Local Authorities on property standards and in particular they must com-ply with local authority licensing and regulation regimes. Where licences are applicable and issued the Local Authority can and do inspect property stand-ards to ensure they comply.<\/p>
We encourage our Providers to take a proactive role in engaging Local Author-ities on property standards and would expect that in the first instance that Pro-viders and local authorities inspect jointly where that is required. This has in-cluded joint inspections with over 25 Local Authorities over the last 12 months.<\/p>
The offer to inspect jointly with UKVI or the accommodation provider is open to all Local Authority areas though we cannot compel them to do so. If Local Au-thorities feel they do not have sufficient resource to inspect with UKVI, or the accommodation Provider, then the Home Office is committed to using its re-source to inspect areas of concern and feedback our findings.<\/p>
As part of our Assurance Plan, we have offered a pilot to three Local Authority areas in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. We will evaluate their success and roll out any future programmes to all Local Authorities who wish to take us up on that offer.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-14T15:01:17.763Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Asylum: Housing"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with which local authorities did his Department's contract compliance team conduct joint inspections of asylum accommodation in 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4393", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stuart C McDonald"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stuart C. McDonald"}
], "uin" : "217600"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/168676", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/168676/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Since 1 April 2013 NHS England has been responsible for commissioning Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) aids for patients with complex disability whose needs require specialised assessment, including for patients with motor neurone disease. Commissioning of non-specialised AAC aids is the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
NHS England has identified an additional £22.5 million funding for AAC and Environmental Controls in 2014-15. A process to identify appropriate providers, and ensure they were able to meet the AAC service specification and standards began in April this year as soon as the budget was confirmed. The specification can be found at:<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>