The Home Office has announced plans to relocate hundreds of asylum seekers from hotels to military sites in Scotland and Sussex. Approximately 900 men will be temporarily housed at sites like Cameron Barracks in Inverness and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex, previously used for Afghan evacuees in 2021.
This move comes after a critical report highlighted wasteful spending on hotel contracts due to leadership failures. Defence minister Luke Pollard emphasized the government’s commitment to closing all asylum hotels by the end of the Parliament, with 24 already shut down, saving £1 billion.
Pollard stated that the Ministry of Defence is ramping up efforts to provide alternative accommodation for asylum seekers, aiming to accelerate the closure of remaining hotels. The military barracks will be managed by contracted providers, ensuring essential services like food, cleaning, and security.
Addressing concerns about the asylum system, Pollard emphasized the necessity of adequate but not luxurious accommodations to deter unauthorized entry into the UK. The government’s objective is to reduce reliance on asylum hotels, which have been criticized for inefficiency and high costs.
As of June this year, about 32,000 asylum seekers were housed in hotels, with accommodation costs projected to triple from £4.5 billion to £15.3 billion by 2029. The Home Office is actively working to identify more suitable sites to accommodate asylum seekers and reduce pressure on communities.
Opposition leader Keir Starmer expressed frustration over the asylum system’s challenges, blaming the previous government for mishandling claims processing. The current administration is committed to reforming the asylum process and closing all asylum hotels to streamline operations and reduce costs.
