Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 July 2026

260616 Letter to the Minister for Border Security and Asylum relating to the Asylum Accommodation - follow up inquiry

From: Home Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Asylum Accommodation: Follow Up

Summary

The Home Affairs Committee writes to the Minister for Border Security and Asylum following his 9 June evidence session, requesting written clarification on five substantive areas: the per-200-occupant pricing model at Crowborough Training Camp, the status of KPI regimes for military sites, performance-related service credits applied to providers, inspection non-compliance data for Clearsprings, and the Home Office's position on a lost legal challenge concerning room-sharing policy for torture and trafficking victims.

Key findings

  • Clearsprings is paid per 200 occupants at Crowborough Training Camp; the Committee seeks clarity on how charges apply when occupancy is not divisible by 200, and the rationale for this pricing structure.
  • The Home Office was drafting a new KPI regime for RAF Wethersfield in October 2025; the Committee requests confirmation of agreement and whether similar regimes apply to Crowborough and Cameron Barracks.
  • Performance-related service credits have been applied across all asylum accommodation types including hotels; the Committee requests financial values by accommodation type.
  • Clearsprings showed significantly higher potential non-conformance rates in 2024 inspections compared to other providers; the Committee requests 2025 updated data and details of investigative action.
  • The Home Office lost a legal challenge on its room-sharing policy for torture and trafficking victims due to insufficient consultation and impact assessment; the Committee seeks clarity on reintroduction plans and cost estimates for relocating affected individuals.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

asylum-accommodationpublic-financesafeguardingoversight

Key actors

Alex Norris, Dame Karen Bradley, Steve Lakey, Clearsprings, Home Office, Corporate Travel Management, National Audit Office

Notable line

Clearsprings had a much higher potential non-conformance rate in comparison to other providers.

Key Quotes

We were told by Steve Lakey, Managing Director at Clearsprings, that Clearsprings is paid per 200 occupants of the site.
Home Affairs Committee · Questioning the pricing structure at Crowborough Training Camp
Clearsprings had a much higher potential non-conformance rate in comparison to other providers.
Home Affairs Committee · On 2024 property inspection findings
The Home Office lost the challenge because of its failure to consult and properly assess the impact of this policy.
Home Affairs Committee · On the recent legal challenge regarding room-sharing for torture and trafficking victims
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗

260616 Letter to the Minister for Border Security and Asylum relating to the Asylum Accommodation - follow up inquiry | Beyond The Vote | Beyond The Vote