The Home Office refused to disclose which local authorities have engaged with a government scheme linked to asylum accommodation, rejecting a Freedom of Information request from GB News seeking details about councils involved in a £500 million fund. According to GB News, the Home Office has been accused of covering up the number of local authorities wanting to put asylum seekers in newly revamped council houses. The specific local authorities that have engaged with the scheme and the exact number that have expressed interest remain unknown.
Officials said releasing the information could prejudice commercial interests tied to ongoing procurement. The Home Office acknowledged there is a clear public interest in releasing the information, particularly amid concerns over value for money in its contracts, but concluded that the balance of public interests lies in maintaining the exemption to protect commercial competitiveness and relationships with service providers. In a statement, the Home Office explained that disclosing the information would likely prejudice the commercial interests of both the Home Office and its contract partners, and that the overall public interest favors maintaining the exemption to protect commercial competitiveness and service provider relationships. The identities of the companies involved in the procurement process and the specific commercial interests that would be prejudiced by disclosure are not publicly known.
If we were to disclose the information to you, this would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of both the Home Office and those companies with whom the Home Office enters contracts.
The scheme forms part of a £500 million plan to create a more sustainable asylum accommodation system, developed with local authorities. The funding aims to help councils provide basic, temporary housing for asylum seekers while their claims are processed, reducing reliance on hotels. In the longer term, the government's ambition is that this investment will leave a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduce pressure on local housing markets. How the scheme's funding is being allocated and whether it provides value for money as claimed have not been detailed.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the Home Office's decision as shameful. According to Daily Express - Politics, Chris Philp said it is shameful that the Labour Government does not want the British people to find out how many council houses they are using to house illegal immigrants. He also stated, according to Daily Express - Politics, that illegal immigrants should not be housed anywhere in this country and should be sent home or to a safe third country.
We have therefore concluded that the balance of public interests identified lies in favour of maintaining the exemption. This is because the overall public interest lies in ensuring that the Home Office’s ability to protect its commercial competitiveness and relationships with its current service providers is not prejudiced.
Former Immigration Minister Kevin Foster said the public has a right to know which councils are colluding with Labour ministers to give much-needed social housing to illegal migrants. According to Daily Express - Politics, Kevin Foster described the Home Office as seeking to cover it up, and with local elections coming up, voters have a right to know so they can pass judgment.
It is shameful that this Labour Government does not want the British people to find out how many council houses they are using to house illegal immigrants.
Illegal immigrants should not be housed anywhere in this country. They should be sent home or to a safe third country.
The public has a right to know which councils are colluding with Labour ministers to give much-needed social housing to illegal migrants. Instead, they seek to cover it up. With local elections coming up, voters have a right to know so they can pass judgment.