VULNERABLE women and children are being forced to live in 'sub-standard' conditions, a North East MP has said.

Alex Cunningham MP for Stockton North secured a debate on Thursday regarding the living conditions of asylum seekers in Stockton and elsewhere in the region.

During the adjournment debate Mr Cunningham said the women and children, often victims of human trafficking were forced to live in unsuitable hotel accommodation for months or years.

He said the rooms were only 'a few metres square', there were 'no private washing and toilet facilities', and 'no provision to cook food'. The MP who has been working closely with charities in the region warned that some of the women were suffering malnutrition and mental health issues.

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Mr Cunningham, however, welcomed the news that Mears the asylum seeking accommodation contractor in Stockton had given notice on one of the hotels.

He said: “Stockton-on-Tees is a welcoming borough with our people, charities and organisations providing all a manner of support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society – often stepping in when Home Office provision falls short.

“However the accommodation provided to some – including women who have been trafficked and abused – is appalling and far below the standards we should expect. I was pleased Mears took up my concern and gave notice on one sub-par hotel, but it is clear we need to see more from the Government in terms of monitoring contracts and making sure accommodation is fit for purpose.

“We need to give hope to these women and children that whilst we may not be able to provide all they want, we will make sure they are safe, secure, fed and healthy as long as we need to fulfil that duty of care. It is, after all, what we would do for our own.”

A spokesperson for Mears said: "Mears has used this hotel as contingency accommodation over the last two years and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Mears has agreed with stakeholders to phase out the use of the hotel by February 2022.

"Mears recognises the need to re-locate service users with care and sensitivity. Mears will work with Teesside local authorities to rehouse mothers with young children in the local area, thereby ensuring their access to local networks and services is maintained."

Suzanne Fletcher a housing coordinator volunteer for the charity Tees Valley Sanctuary which helps people seeking sanctuary with housing, schools and mental health, said: "I have been in the hotel, if someone was to stay the night there for a sports event or something like that it's absolutely fine. What it's not meant for is vulnerable women living there for weeks and months on end. It is isolated, it's a long way from the rest of the community, it isn't an area where people feel they could actually go out and walk anywhere, it makes it very difficult for people to be supported by people in the community that want to help.

"People come here traumatised, upset, disorientated, they don't know where Stockton is, they've come from another country. It is not a suitable place to have people at all.

"The rooms are meant to stay the night in, they're not meant for living in. It doesn't meet everybody's cultural needs, what they're used to in their own country, which you could put up for, for days or weeks but for months and months on end to have food you find difficult to eat, that is hard for them."

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