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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what counties a search is being conducted by his Department or its agencies for (a) accommodation centres and (b) induction centres for asylum seekers; how many premises have been identified as suitable for such purposes; how many offers have been made; how many contracts have been exchanged; how many contracts have been completed of the purchase of such properties; and if he will list the last. [93091] Beverley Hughes: We have submitted planning notifications for accommodation centres at DSDC (Defence Storage Distribution Centre) Bicester and Royal Air Force (RAF) Newton. A shortlist of three further sites remains under consideration. They are: Sully Hospital, Cardiff; AirWest, Edinburgh; Hemswell Cliff, Lincolnshire. Site searching continues, but details of sites will not be put into the public domain unless or until the site is considered to be a serious prospect for the siting of an accommodation centre. To date the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has entered into contracts for the use of hotel beds to support induction processes in Dover and Sittingbourne. NASS is currently considering options for other such accommodation throughout the UK. Details of these sites cannot be released because that information is commercially sensitive.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

93091; 398 c1034W;398 c1028W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Contracts Asylum Accommodation centres Housing Planning permission Procurement Location Temporary accommodation

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk