Military Barracks to House Asylum Seekers, Phasing Out Hotels

Hundreds of asylum seekers are scheduled to be relocated to military facilities in Scotland and Sussex in an effort to phase out the use of hotels. The Home Office has affirmed that these sites will temporarily house approximately 900 men, with plans underway to pinpoint additional potential locations to accelerate the closure of hotels.

The initiative involves accommodating men at Cameron Barracks in Inverness and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex, both of which served as housing for Afghans during the 2021 Kabul evacuation. This move comes in the wake of a critical report revealing wastage of billions of pounds on costly contracts due to leadership shortcomings under the previous administration.

According to Defence Minister Luke Pollard, there is a clear directive from the Prime Minister to shut down all asylum hotels by the end of the current term. Pollard highlighted that 24 hotels have already ceased operations, resulting in a £1 billion saving, but emphasized the need for faster closures. The Ministry of Defense is intensifying efforts to identify suitable sites within Government-owned estates to facilitate swift closures.

Pollard assured that the provided military barracks meet the necessary standards for accommodating asylum seekers, ensuring adequacy without luxury. The focus is on deterring unauthorized entry to the UK by offering suitable yet deterrent accommodation.

The decision to transition asylum seekers to military barracks aligns with the Government’s strategy to eliminate the use of asylum hotels, which have been criticized as dysfunctional and expensive. The Home Office is actively pursuing alternative sites to alleviate community burden and reduce asylum-related expenses.

As of June this year, the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels stood at around 32,000, lower than the peak of over 56,000 in 2023 but higher than the previous year by 2,500 individuals. Additionally, the projected costs of Home Office accommodation contracts for 2019-2029 have surged from £4.5 billion to £15.3 billion, attributed to a substantial increase in demand.

Opposition leader Keir Starmer expressed frustration and anger over the asylum system’s state, blaming the preceding government for the existing challenges in claims processing.

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