Government drops asylum centre plans

Tuesday, 14 June 2005 12:00 AM

The Government has dropped all plans to build accommodation centres for asylum seekers around the country.

Ministers had planned to construct a number of accommodation centres for asylum seekers around the country - often in rural areas - to host claimants whilst their applications were being processed.

But in a written ministerial statement on Tuesday, Immigration Minister Tony McNulty said that the Government would not be proceeding with plans for an accommodation centre at Bicester or "at any other potential site".

The Bicester project has to date cost £18 million.

Mr McNulty told the House of Commons that since the project to construct the centre had begun, "the situation on asylum has changed very significantly".

He said that the number of applications had fallen sharply, applications were now handled in a shorter space of time and the five-year asylum and immigration strategy would introduce a further fast-tracking of claims.

The minister added: "Central to this approach will be the use of removal centres." There is still the possibility of Bicester being used as a secure removals centre.

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said that the cancellation was a "shocking indictment" of the Government's policy.

Mr Davis said: "This costly failure is a shocking indictment of Government policy. It is a direct consequence of their shambolic approach to asylum and leaves the Government's promise to increase the number of failed asylum seekers being removed in tatters.

"Not only has the tax-payer been left to pick up yet another massive bill for Government failure but the people of Bicester continue to be tormented by uncertainty while the Government flounders."

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said that the decision was welcome as the proposed sites had been unsuitable.

Mr Oaten said: "I welcome the Government's announcement today. The planned sites were entirely unsuitable, lacking support in the local community or the services and infrastructure to maintain such centres."

He added: "It's all very well putting extra money into removals, but the root of the problem remains with the poor decision making at the beginning of the process."

Maeve Sherlock, chief executive of the Refugee Council, also described the move as "sensible".

Ms Sherlock, said: "Accommodation centres of the kind that were planned for Bicester and elsewhere are totally inappropriate for the needs of asylum seekers.

"It is much better to house asylum seekers within the community - it leads to better community relations and helps integration for those who are finally allowed to stay."

But she added: "We are concerned about plans to increase the use of detention. Depriving someone of his or her liberty is a serious step and should only be taken as a last resort and where there is clear evidence to justify it."

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