AQW 8905/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 14/03/2024
Answered On Date: 28/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, in relation to his Department's responsibility for the implementation of child protection policy, for his assessment of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration's report, An inspection of contingency asylum accommodation for families with children in Northern Ireland.

Answer:

I welcome the publication of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration report on Contingency Accommodation in Northern Ireland which was jointly requested by the Department of Health and The Executive Office. While the recommendations within the report are for the Home Office, my Department, together with the relevant statutory agencies (including Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland), will continue to support MEARS and the Home office to ensure that safeguarding policies and procedures in contingency accommodation are robust and are in keeping with standards of safeguarding practice, policy and procedure in Northern Ireland.