More than £20million spent on Bibby Stockholm barge used to accommodate asylum seekers
More than £20million of taxpayers’ cash is being spent on leasing the Bibby Stockholm barge, the Government has admitted.
The controversial vessel that’s getting used to accommodate lots of of asylum seekers is docked in Portland Port in Dorset.
In a letter to MPs, Home Office everlasting secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft stated that £22,450,772 is being spent on the barge over what’s regarded as an 18 month interval. The £41,000-a-day invoice relates solely to the leasing of the vessel, with the price of the berthing, safety and additional assist for the native council approaching prime.
It is believed solely round 200 persons are at the moment accommodated on the barge, which might work out at £200-a-night for every one. That is dearer than many inns despite the fact that ministers have repeatedly claimed it could get monetary savings.
Immigration Minister Tom Pursglove insisted the price was “undoubtedly” cheaper than housing asylum seekers in inns.
Sir Matthew wrote: “The value-for-money assessment is currently being updated to give the latest per person per night cost and we will provide details in the New Year once this is complete.” In his letter to the Home Affairs Committee, the highest official additionally set out how £2.1million has been spent up to now on authorized challenges associated to the stalled Rwanda deportation scheme.
Mr Pursglove advised the MPs that 132 youngsters who had gone lacking from Home Office inns nonetheless had not been discovered. He stated 103 of those have been now over the age of 18.
The figures on the price of the barge come after it was introduced that one of many asylum seekers on board had died. Police have been referred to as to stories of the “sudden death” of a person residing on the vessel early on Tuesday morning. South Dorset MP Richard Drax stated he had been advised by the Home Office the person is believed to have taken his personal life. Home Secretary James Cleverly has stated that the loss of life will probably be investigated.
The Government began utilizing the Bibby Stockholm as lodging in August, however it was quickly shut after simply 4 days when Legionella micro organism was found within the water provide. The vessel’s proprietor, Liverpool-based Bibby Marine say it has been refurbished since a watchdog referred to as it an “oppressive environment” when the Dutch authorities used it to accommodate asylum seekers in 2005.
Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated: “We can’t continue with this damaging and costly chaos.”
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