Fact Sheet: UK Bridging & Accommodation Services Contract

Introduction

The UK Government is providing humanitarian support, including contingency accommodation, to large numbers of Asylum Seekers making their way through EU countries to the UK. The pressure on the asylum system has continued to grow and requires the UK Government to look at a range of accommodation options which are more appropriate and offer better value for the taxpayer than more expensive hotels.

CTM is part of the humanitarian effort, under the UK Asylum Bridging Program, managing travel logistics for Asylum Seekers who are in need of contingency accommodation.

CTM began managing the contract for Accommodation and Travel Services from 1 June 2023.

We bring extensive experience after successfully managing large scale humanitarian assistance projects (managing displaced people and extractions at scale). Some of the work includes the Thomas Cook collapse (returning passengers stranded abroad), supporting Asylum Seekers from Ukraine, Afghanistan and Sudan (of which the majority are now settled in long-term accommodation), and the repatriation of UK citizens during COVID.

Q: Is CTM managing Mandatory Detention with respect to the UK immigration program?

CTM does not, and would not, participate in mandatory detention.

We manage a large number of hotels in the UK and currently one vessel to house Asylum Seekers while their applications are processed. We have successfully managed vessel accommodation before to assist Ukrainian Asylum Seekers.

Under the Asylum Bridging Program;

• Asylum Seekers have 24/7 freedom of movement outside of CTM managed accommodation.
• Accommodation and service delivery must meet minimum human rights standards and represent value for money.
• Accommodation and transport suppliers are subject to internal audits with government oversight.

Q: What is CTM responsible for?

CTM is responsible for travel related functions in the UK only. This includes sourcing and managing the allocation of hotel and vessel accommodation, transport logistics and meals. Hotel and vessel accommodation, including food and beverage services, are provided by suppliers sub-contracted by CTM.

Some aspects of the support provided to Asylum Seekers are outside of CTM’s remit and provided by other parties. This includes overall duty of care, security, healthcare, hotel and vessel infrastructure, other accommodation structures and management (tents, barracks, camps), and accommodation services outside of the UK.

Q: How was the contract awarded to CTM?

The contract was compliantly awarded through the Crown Commercial Services Framework RM6217 and in line with the framework award criteria. The contract is published on ‘Contracts Finder’ which shows that the original scope of the contract includes both contingency accommodation provision (including use of vessel accommodation) and travel services for the Asylum and Protection cohorts.

The Home Office varied the existing CTM Asylum and Protection Bridging Accommodation and Travel services to allow for the provision of Vessel Accommodation services. The Home Office utilises separate agreements for official bookings for conferences, flights, train tickets, hotels and vehicle hire for ministers and civil servants.

Q: What is the contract value?

The contract value is estimated at A$3.0bn TTV (Total Transaction Value) over two years.

TTV is the gross value of all sales relating to travel-related services. CTM’s revenue from the contract is a small proportion of the contract value.

Through our expertise and procurement approach, and more efficient hotel room utilisation, the UK Government is saving significant costs over the life of the contract. Currently, the accommodation spend under the contract is significantly lower than A$1.5bn per annum.

Q: Is the whole contract for vessel accommodation?

Barges are housing less than 1% of the entire migration cohort, but given there is a critical shortage of accommodation, there must be alternate solutions to temporarily house and safely shelter additional displaced migrants while they await processing, particularly approaching the autumn and winter months in the UK.

Only one vessel is currently housing Asylum Seekers. All other Asylum Seekers being housed under the CTM contract are accommodated in hotels.

The Bibby Stockholm accommodates single adult male Asylum Seekers aged 18 – 65 who would otherwise be destitute and are close to being granted UK citizenship. Women and families with children are only accommodated in hotels and serviced apartments.

Q: What due diligence have you conducted on suppliers that are providing services to Asylum Seekers? What ongoing monitoring and audits will you have in place to ensure that an appropriate standard is maintained?

We operate within strict contractual guidelines set out by the UK Government and our services are subject to a robust governance framework. All subcontracted suppliers are subject to CTM due diligence and must be approved by the UK Government and comply with rigorous contract requirements, and their services are internally audited.

Q: What mechanisms do you have in place to ensure compliance with labour standards, including fair wages, safe working conditions for staff working on this vessel?

All staff working on the vessel are employed by UK-based organisations and are paid, at a minimum, in line with UK Living Wage and statutory employment conditions.

Q: What services are in place to manage safety and physical and mental health issues for Asylum Seekers?

Safety and healthcare for Asylum Seekers on board the vessel is the responsibility of the Home Office and NHS Dorset. However, we consider security, health and wellbeing needs of Asylum Seekers when contracting hotel and vessel accommodation, working in partnership with the NHS, local authorities and other stakeholders.

More information from the Home Office about healthcare, safety and support for Asylum Seekers on board the vessel is available here:

Factsheet: Asylum accommodation on a vessel in Portland Port – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Q: Will there be independent oversight of the condition of the vessel?

Home Office has a specialist team providing oversight and assurance to all facilities used to accommodate Asylum Seekers in the UK and CTM ensures that all sub-contractors meet regulatory standards

Dorset Council has regulatory responsibility for the Environmental and Food Safety components of services onboard the vessel and conduct their own audits and assessments.

Q: Is CTM responsible for water and fire escape compliance on vessels?

Home Office has a specialist team providing oversight and assurance to all facilities used to accommodate Asylum Seekers in the UK and CTM ensure that all sub-contractors conduct appropriate risk assessments and operate safe systems.

View UK Government Home Office Statement on the Bibby Stockholm – 19/10/2023

 

Last updated 09 September 2024.