In what was a fiery interrogation, Barry questioned witnesses from the Home Office on support and accommodation for Asylum Seekers in the latest Public Accounts Committee meeting.
The witnesses were: Matthew Rycroft CBE, (Permanent Secretary, Home Office); Shona Dunn, (Second Permanent Secretary, Home Office); Sean Palmer, (Director, Immigration & Protection, Home Office).
Barry probed the witnesses on the following issues:
The lack of safe and legal routes for Unaccompanied Migrants
The unacceptable delay in decisions and funding for migrants at risk of destitution
Failures in contacting local authorities, CCG’s and GP’s when placing asylum seekers in accommodation
The lack of sanctions for those responsible for these failures
Penalties and Incentives for providers of asylum accommodation
How the Home Office are prioritising those who are most vulnerable and ensuring that they are specially taken care of
What work was done by the Home Office to assess whether Migrant Help’s original staffing and recruitment plans were sufficient
The lack of engagement with NGOs and those who are providing a service for refugees
The human impact on communities and the most vulnerable people
You can watch the full exchange below: