Cross-party MPs raise alarm about ‘inefficient and inhumane’ state of asylum housing

An article titled “Home Office should have its oversight of asylum housing removed, say MPs” from 27th April 2021 in the Independent featured the Westminster Hall debate led by RAMP Principals Neil Coyle MP and David Simmonds MP. The article also noted debate contributions from new RAMP Principals Caroline Nokes MP. For the full article, see here.

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During a parliamentary debate on Tuesday, Labour MP Neil Coyle said the UK’s asylum system was “inhumane, inefficient and expensive”, adding that the use of disused barracks to house asylum seekers marked a “shameful episode” for the Home Office.

He warned that criminals were “benefiting from Home Office policy”, describing cases where organised crime groups had “targeted” asylum seekers in government-funded premises to engage them in illegal work including drug trafficking.

Mr Coyle said: “The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government [MHCLG] might be better placed to provide some supported accommodation and local authorities are often overlooked by this authoritarian centralised government.”

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Conservative MP and former immigration minister Caroline Nokes said Home Office plans to create a new asylum facility on a military site near Barton Stacey, a village in her constituency, were “deeply suspect”.

She said: “Barton Stacey is not only remote from services such as running water, but it’s adjacent to a dual carriageway for poor safety record. It’s also next to an MoD firing range and a shooting school, so those seeking refuge from war will listen to the sound of gunshot.”

Ms Nokes, who was immigration minister for 19 months until July 2019, said that although it was “challenging” to find suitable asylum accommodation, the Home Office should take an “integrated” approach, working closely with MHCLG and local authorities.