Properties used by asylum seekers and refugees in the Glasgow area: FOI release

Information requested

1. Whether any properties in the area of Castlemilk are currently being used, or have been used in the past 12 months, to house asylum seekers, refugees, or individuals awaiting immigration status decisions.

2. If the former Torbrae Care Home is currently being used, or have been used in the past 12 months, to house asylum seekers, refugees, or individuals awaiting immigration status decisions.

3. If so, please confirm the number of such properties and whether these properties are owned or leased by Glasgow City Council or by third-party contractors acting on the council’s behalf.

4. The dates during which any such accommodation arrangements have been in place.

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because we do not hold any information regarding properties in Castlemilk being used to house people seeking asylum, refugees, or individuals awaiting immigration status decisions. We also do not hold any information relating to use of the former Torbrae Care Home for this purpose either currently or over the past 12 months.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

As asylum and immigration are reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office, you may wish to contact the Home Office at foirequests@homeoffice.gov.uk to find out whether there is any information which they would be able to provide in relation to your request. You can also find information which has already been published under previous information requests, as part of statistical releases, or otherwise made available on the UK Government website. Including quarterly immigration system statistics data tables: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statisticsdata-tables. Regional and local authority data, including a breakdown for Scotland, is available here: Regional and local authority data on immigration groups - GOV.UK.

It may also be helpful to note that Mears Group, the Home Office contracted asylum accommodation provider in Scotland, has been reported as stating that they have no involvement with the former Torbrae Care Home property and no plans to use it in future.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.