THE Home Office minister with responsibility for immigration and asylum is making a tour today of North-East areas where asylum seekers are rehoused.
Barbara Roche has been invited to Newcastle by the North-East Consortium for Asylum Support Services.
Consortium chairman and Newcastle city councillor Ruth Robson said: "The North-East has a great tradition of welcoming people from all parts of the world, and will continue with this tradition.
"We actively supported the Government's interim dispersal scheme, playing a part by being involved in the Local Government Authority's Task Group."
The region will be providing 1,392 units of accommodation, and to date 815 have been made available to the Home Office.
In addition to the consortium, there are three private providers in the region which are contracted by the Home Office to provide accommodation and support to asylum seekers.
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