Rishi Sunak has confirmed that the barge which the Government hopes to house asylum seekers in is undergoing a series of checks before opening.
Police officers were spotted boarding the 222-cabin vessel Bibby Stockholm in Portland, Dorset, on Tuesday as safety checks and inspections are understood to be carried out.
The Prime Minister told reporters on Tuesday that “all migrant accommodation has to go through a series of checks and inspections to make sure it complies with regulation, that’s what’s happening in this case.”
It follows reports that the barge could be a “floating Grenfell” due to fire safety concerns, according to The Times. Around 40 people staying in other Home Office accommodation have received letters informing them they will be moved to the barge.
Earlier on Tuesday Transport Minister Richard Holden said he cannot put a timeframe on when asylum seekers will be housed on the Bibby Stockholm, but said the vessel is undergoing “final checks”.
Asked on Sky News when the barge would be available, he said: “It’s going through its final checks at the moment. It’s right that… whatever accommodation we provide is safe and secure as well. I can’t put a timeframe on it.”
Asked about there being no timeframe, he said: “The checks are going to take as long as they’re going to take. It’s important we get these things right.”
More than 50 organisations and campaigners have condemned the plan to house asylum seekers on the barge, calling it “inhumane” and suggesting it would re-traumatise vulnerable people.
But Mr Sunak said on Tuesday: “Let’s take a step back, this is ultimately about fairness. I don’t think it’s fair that British taxpayers are forking out six million quid a day to house illegal migrants in hotels – I want to put an end to that.”
Asked about a GB News report about the Home Office approving the acquisition of an apartment complex in Essex to host asylum seekers, he told the channel: “I think what’s going on currently is completely wrong.
“We’ve got a situation which is unfair.
“British taxpayers are forking out six million quid a day to house illegal migrants in hotels and other accommodation.
“That’s clearly wrong, it’s clearly unfair and that’s why I want to put an end to it.”
It comes as figures reveal the average number of migrants crossing the Channel per boat last month was the highest on record.
Some 3,299 people made the journey in July in 63 boats – an average of around 52 migrants per vessel.
This is the highest average since records began in 2018, according to PA news agency analysis of Government data.
Provisional Home Office figures show 14,732 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year. But no arrivals have been recorded in nearly a week amid poor weather conditions at sea.
Meanwhile plans to move 2,000 migrants into the RAF camp have reportedly been delayed until October, after setbacks in conducting surveys on the 14 buildings designated for migrant accommodation.
