Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a long term, dedicated visa route for overseas shearers to ensure timely shearing and protect livestock welfare.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government recognises the importance of safe and timely shearing to protect animal welfare. The sheep shearing concession has been operating for 15 years and it is reasonable to expect that over this period a long-term sustainable solution had been found to identify this workforce gap. Therefore, having considered the potential merits, and in line with the plans set out in the White Paper “Restoring Control over the Immigration System,” published in May 2025, the Government does not consider a long-term route is required.
The Government expects the sector to meet these needs through the domestic workforce and individuals with existing general work rights, including dependants or Youth Mobility Scheme visa holders, who are free to take up work as a sheep shearer subject to the relevant visa restrictions.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the average cost of accommodating an asylum seeker at (a) Crowborough Training Camp and (b) other hotels.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Military sites are being considered for asylum accommodation, with the aim of reducing the impact on communities and delivering better outcomes for taxpayers.
We are confident that the level of due diligence carried out on sites has improved, and that value for money assessments take place at the appropriate stage.
Costs will be included in the Departments Annual Report and Accounts in the normal way.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have left the site and not returned whilst accommodated at the Crowborough Training Camp.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Asylum seekers at the site are not detained, however the site is self-contained as essential services are provided on site to reduce the impact on local services through reducing the need for asylum seekers to leave the site.
The Home Office does not give a live commentary on the number of asylum seekers accommodated at accommodation sites.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the next intake of asylum seekers are expected to arrive at the Crowborough Training Camp.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not give a live commentary on the number of asylum seekers accommodated at accommodation sites.
Site occupancy will be increased via a phased and incremental approach to full occupancy.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether asylum seekers accommodated at Crowborough Training Camp are free to leave the site; and whether restrictions are placed on their movement into Crowborough and surrounding areas.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
In accordance with current legislation, people with a valid pending claim for asylum are permitted to remain in the UK while their claim is being processed, and as they have permission to remain in the UK during that time, they cannot be routinely detained. Detention is primarily used to facilitate removal of those who have no lawful right to remain in the UK, and who refuse to leave voluntarily.
Asylum seekers at the site are not detained, however the site is self-contained as essential services are provided on site to reduce the impact on local services through reducing the need for asylum seekers to leave the site.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers are accommodated at Crowborough Training Camp.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not give a live commentary on the number of asylum seekers accommodated at accommodation sites.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department holds information on the planning contravention notice issued by Wealden District Council on the proposed accommodation of asylum seekers at the Crowborough Training Camp.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Yes, Wealden District Council issued a Planning Contravention Notice on 21 November, requesting further information on how the site is currently being used. We will ensure that any development is safe, appropriate and compliant with planning regulations.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Wealden District Council has been consulted on the potential use of the expedited procedure for the Crowborough Training Camp for Asylum Seeker accommodation.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Discussions are underway to use the Crowborough site for asylum accommodation. Consideration of this site is ongoing and any final decision to utilise any site for the intended purposes will be made once the relevant factors have been properly considered.
As potential sites are identified and progressed for alternative asylum accommodation, a Stage Gate process, which builds on the lessons learned from the delivery of previous sites, is followed to ensure that any decisions made are informed by a comprehensive range of information. This includes, but isn’t limited to, site surveys and environmental audits.
The Home Office continues to engage regularly with representatives from the local authority, the NHS, the Police, and local partners, including via Multi Agency Forums pre-delivery and post-Go Live of the proposed site to address the concerns of those most impacted and to identify ways to keep them informed.
We will ensure that any development is safe, appropriate and compliant with the relevant planning regulations and processes where required.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what dates her Department met with Wealden District Council to discuss the Crowborough Training Camp and asylum seeker accommodation.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Discussions are underway to use the Crowborough site for asylum accommodation. Consideration of this site is ongoing and any final decision to utilise any site for the intended purposes will be made once the relevant factors have been properly considered.
As potential sites are identified and progressed for alternative asylum accommodation, a Stage Gate process, which builds on the lessons learned from the delivery of previous sites, is followed to ensure that any decisions made are informed by a comprehensive range of information. This includes, but isn’t limited to, site surveys and environmental audits.
The Home Office continues to engage regularly with representatives from the local authority, the NHS, the Police, and local partners, including via Multi Agency Forums pre-delivery and post-Go Live of the proposed site to address the concerns of those most impacted and to identify ways to keep them informed.
We will ensure that any development is safe, appropriate and compliant with the relevant planning regulations and processes where required.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information she holds on the (a) documents, (b) information, and (c) evidence Wealden District Council has provided to the Planning Inspectorate in relation to local (i) planning and (ii) environmental considerations for the proposed asylum seeker accommodation at Crowborough Training Camp.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Discussions are underway to use the Crowborough site for asylum accommodation. Consideration of this site is ongoing and any final decision to utilise any site for the intended purposes will be made once the relevant factors have been properly considered.
As potential sites are identified and progressed for alternative asylum accommodation, a Stage Gate process, which builds on the lessons learned from the delivery of previous sites, is followed to ensure that any decisions made are informed by a comprehensive range of information. This includes, but isn’t limited to, site surveys and environmental audits.
The Home Office continues to engage regularly with representatives from the local authority, the NHS, the Police, and local partners, including via Multi Agency Forums pre-delivery and post-Go Live of the proposed site to address the concerns of those most impacted and to identify ways to keep them informed.
We will ensure that any development is safe, appropriate and compliant with the relevant planning regulations and processes where required.