2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:16 pm on 8 November 2022.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 2:16, 8 November 2022

Trefnydd, can I call for a statement from the Minister for local government on the news that scores of asylum seekers are being housed at a luxury hotel in rural Conwy in north Wales? This is something that has caused a great deal of concern amongst the community, because there's been no communication whatsoever prior to this arrangement being made with either local representatives or, indeed, I understand, with the Welsh Government or the local authority. Now, clearly, we have to make sure that accommodation is suitable for asylum seekers until their asylum claims are determined, and the UK Government has a significant challenge on its hands, but many people have had their bookings cancelled, wedding events are being cancelled, guests have had their bookings at the hotel cancelled as well. And, of course, we've got a huge strain already on many of our public services in the area, and people want to know what's going to be done to make sure that they're not also given additional burdens as a result of this decision, which appears to have been imposed upon all of us from above.

Can I ask for an urgent statement on that, and what the Welsh Government is doing to work with the UK Government and, indeed, the local authority concerned, Conwy County Borough Council, to make sure that the needs of these individuals are met and that they can be appropriately housed, not in a luxury hotel at a time when we've got lots of housing problems already in north Wales, but in appropriate accommodation that is fit for purpose?