Asylum seekers will be put in huge holding centres that can house up to 8,000 applicants under Home Office plans
Asylum centres that will house up to 8,000 applicants will replace hotel accommodation under Home Office plans, it was revealed yesterday.
Home Secretary Priti Patel wants to streamline the asylum process – and make hazardous and illegal entry via the Channel less attractive.
More than 10,000 migrants have already arrived in small boats this year, compared with 8,410 last year. A record 482 migrants made the 21-mile journey in a single day last week.
Asylum centres that will house up to 8,000 applicants will replace hotel accommodation under Home Office plans, it was revealed yesterday
A tender gives details of the accommodation project to potential bidders, revealing that the Home Office wants asylum seekers to be housed at centres in nine regions across England, but none in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
Miss Patel’s New Plan for Immigration said: ‘Asylum seekers will be allocated to accommodation centres by the department and the Home Secretary, rather than dispersing people across the UK.’
The living conditions in the accommodation centres will be ‘basic’ and in line with statutory obligations, according to the Home Office.
A tender gives details of the accommodation project to potential bidders, revealing that the Home Office wants asylum seekers to be housed at centres in nine regions across England, but none in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
The centres will have to accommodate applicants for up to six months, supporting them in processing their asylum claims.
The document invites hoteliers to apply to be part of the network. It adds: ‘We also encourage consortiums, and hope to facilitate networking and engagement between different partners, including landlords, hoteliers and other accommodation providers to facilitate new solutions.’
Details of the plan came as more than 80 migrants, including nine children and a baby, were rescued yesterday by British and French Channel authorities
Immigration minister Chris Philp said: ‘We will end the use of hotels for new arrivals who enter the UK illegally. We plan to introduce new centres to provide basic accommodation for those who can’t be returned to a safe country.’
Details of the plan came as more than 80 migrants, including nine children and a baby, were rescued yesterday by British and French Channel authorities. On Thursday, an Eritrean man, 27, became the first migrant to die this year attempting the crossing.