{"id":566,"date":"2023-03-29T10:47:30","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T10:47:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/uk-asylum-plans-plan-to-house-migrants-in-ex-military-bases-to-be-unveiled\/"},"modified":"2023-03-29T10:47:30","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T10:47:30","slug":"uk-asylum-plans-plan-to-house-migrants-in-ex-military-bases-to-be-unveiled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/uk-asylum-plans-plan-to-house-migrants-in-ex-military-bases-to-be-unveiled\/","title":{"rendered":"UK asylum plans: Plan to house migrants in ex-military bases to be unveiled"},"content":{"rendered":"

UK asylum plans: Plan to house migrants in ex-military bases to be unveiled<\/p>\n

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By Ione Wells, Political Correspondent & Andre Rhoden-Paul<\/div>\n
BBC News<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Plans to move away from using hotels to house migrants are set to be unveiled by the government on Wednesday.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The announcement, said to be a “move to rudimentary accommodation”, will be made in the Commons by immigration minister Robert Jenrick later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Two disused military bases are set to be repurposed, but reported plans to deploy ferries or barges as housing are understood to be less advanced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The government says \u00a36.2m a day is being spent on hotels for migrants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The BBC understands the government has already secured the necessary planning changes needed to repurpose military sites in Lincolnshire and Essex, and both could be used to house people who enter the country illegally within weeks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But it is thought that while plans to use ferries and barges are under consideration, they are not at an advanced stage, with details including how many vessels are needed and where they will be moored unlikely to be confirmed today.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Justice Secretary Dominic Raab told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme all low cost options were being looked at, and said ferries had been used elsewhere, including in Scotland, where two have been used as temporary housing for Ukrainian refugees. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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He refused to be drawn on whether the use of vessels figures in the government’s immediate plans but indicated ministers were open to the option if they can be used “safely and responsibly”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has previously criticised plans to house people at the base near the village of Wethersfield in his Essex constituency of Braintree.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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He said the site was “inappropriate” because it was remote and had limited transport infrastructure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It is expected Mr Jenrick will also announce that the Home Office will use the RAF Scampton site – home of the Dambusters during the Second World War – near to the village of Scampton in Lincolnshire. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sir Edward Leigh, the Tory MP for the area, has previously criticised the choice. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A deal had been agreed in March to allow West Lindsey District Council to purchase the base from the Ministry of Defence as part of a \u00a3300m regeneration project of the site for commercial activity, heritage, tourism and research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Government sources say each site will have the capacity to house 1,500-2,000 migrants, and initially are more are likely to be used for new arrivals rather than to rehouse people currently in hotels. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The government is considering using a “giant barge” capable of holding hundreds of people, according to the Times, with a government source telling the paper it would have a “deterrent effect” on people arriving in small boats. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Disused cruise ships, empty holiday parks and former student halls have also been discussed as alternatives to hotels. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey accused the government of “going after headlines” while failing to solve the problem of people arriving in small boats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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