The Home Office is progressing with plans to relocate hundreds of asylum seekers from hotels to military sites in Scotland and Sussex. Approximately 900 men are expected to be housed temporarily at Cameron Barracks in Inverness and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex, with efforts underway to pinpoint additional suitable locations amidst mounting pressure to expedite the closure of hotel accommodations.
This initiative follows a critical report revealing significant financial wastage on costly contracts due to leadership shortcomings under the previous administration. Defence minister Luke Pollard affirmed the government’s commitment to shutting down all asylum hotels by the end of the parliamentary term, with 24 already closed, resulting in £1 billion in savings. The Ministry of Defence is intensifying its efforts by offering available sites to accommodate asylum seekers, facilitating the rapid closure of more hotels.
Pollard emphasized the importance of providing adequate but not luxurious accommodation to deter unauthorized immigration, confirming that the military barracks offered to the Home Office will be managed by contracted service providers overseeing essentials like food, cleanliness, and security. This transition aligns with the government’s broader strategy to phase out asylum hotels following scathing criticism from a parliamentary committee, denouncing them as inefficient, disorganized, and costly.
As of June this year, the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels has decreased to around 32,000, though it remains higher than the previous year. The projected costs of Home Office accommodation contracts have surged from £4.5 billion to £15.3 billion for 2019-2029, attributed to a significant spike in demand according to the Commons Home Affairs Committee.
Opposition leader Keir Starmer expressed frustration over the asylum system’s challenges, blaming the previous government for the current predicament. The government remains resolute in its mission to transition away from asylum hotels and streamline the asylum process for improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
