Minister for Border Security and Asylum (): This Government inherited an
asylum system under significant strain, with hundreds of hotels
in use at considerable cost to the taxpayer.
I wish to update the House on the Government's action to fix the
asylum accommodation system, ending the use of asylum hotels and
replacing them with alternatives that work.
We are scaling up alternative accommodation by expanding the use
of large, basic facilities, including former military sites, to
replace unsuitable hotels. Three new ex-military sites are now
under consideration: MoD Barnham, MoD Bicester and MoD
Linton-on-Ouse. Together, these sites could eventually provide
accommodation for around 3,750 asylum seekers, subject to
feasibility assessments, planning and the necessary approvals.
We will also seek to extend the use of Crowborough and expand
both the capacity and duration of use at Wethersfield. Following
detailed assessments, the Government has decided not to proceed
with Cameron Barracks in Scotland as a potential site for asylum
accommodation, and it will be returned to the Ministry of
Defence.
Alongside this, and as part of the next phase of delivering our
commitment to end asylum hotel use by the end of this Parliament
and return them to communities, we are closing a further 20
asylum hotels across England.
Hotel use has now more than halved since its peak. Just under 170
asylum hotels remain in use, down from around 400 at the height
of the previous Government's reliance on hotels. The number of
people accommodated in hotels has also been cut by more than
half, from a peak of 56,000 in 2023 to around 21,000.
This follows the first tranche of 11 hotel closures announced in
April. These latest closures are part of wider reforms which will
restore control of the system, including faster decision-making,
increased returns, and stronger action to deter illegal entry
into the UK.
This marks a decisive shift away from the unsuitable use of
hotels that spiralled under the previous government, and towards
a more controlled and sustainable accommodation system that
tackles the factors driving demand.
The Home Office operates all sites safely and securely, working
closely with local authorities, police and partners, just as we
have successfully done at Wethersfield for several years. Public
safety and community cohesion will remain central to this work.
The Government will provide further updates to Parliament as this
work progresses.
