Immigration minister Robert Jenrick has announced that the government is looking to “provide accommodation to several thousand asylum seekers through repurposed barrack blocks and portakabins” at military sites, including in Essex, East Sussex and Lincolnshire.
These will “provide basic accommodation at scale”, Jenrick told MPs, as the government looks to reduce the use of hotel accommodation for those seeking asylum.
He also said that the government will “continue to explore the possibility of accommodating migrants in vessels”, including barges.
The announcement comes weeks after the introduction of the widely criticised Illegal Migration Bill to parliament.
The Children’s Society’s policy and practice advisor Marieke Widmann said the charity is “deeply concerned that the government may look to house asylum seekers in military bases and vessels”.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
