RAF sites house just 800 migrants as Home Office spends £46m more than hotels

The NAO found estimated set-up costs at ex-RAF bases would be £5m each but they rose to £49m for Wethersfield and £27m for Scampton

According to the findings, the Home Office originally estimated set-up costs at the former RAF bases would be £5m each but they increased towarned by senior Home Office officials there was a “significant” risk that housing migrants at former military barracks instead of hotels would not cut costs as ministers had claimed.

“Yet the pace at which the Government pursued its plans led to increased risks, and it now expects large sites to cost more than using hotel accommodation.” Chief executive of the Refugee Council Enver Solomon described it as “another alarming example of bad policies being implemented badly at huge financial and human cost”, while Steve Smith, the boss of migrant charity Care4Calais which is taking legal action over the use of Wethersfield for asylum accommodation, added: “Someone in Government has to be held accountable for the fear and trauma they have created.

“The Home Office originally assessed that large sites would be around £94m cheaper than hotels. Its latest estimates suggest they will cost £46m more than using hotels, although the Home Office believes they will provide more appropriate and sustainable accommodation,” the watchdog added.

Source: Holiday News (holidaynews.net)

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