Napier Barracks Asylum Accommodation Debate

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Department: Home Office

Napier Barracks Asylum Accommodation

Tom Hunt Excerpts
Thursday 10th June 2021

(2 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chris Philp Portrait Chris Philp
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I have explained that many aspects of the judgment found in favour of the Home Office, and I have also explained that improvements have been made subsequently. The contracts are monitored on an ongoing basis, but I repeat again that the challenges of managing 60,000 people in asylum accommodation in the middle of a pandemic are very considerable.

Tom Hunt Portrait Tom Hunt (Ipswich) (Con)
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I see this issue about public health in a pandemic as a little bit of a distraction technique, frankly. Pandemic or no pandemic, I am pretty sure that most Labour Members would rather have these people, who are largely illegal immigrants, in elaborate hotel accommodation for as long as possible—potentially indefinitely. Does the Minister agree that if we are going to do what the elected Government were asked to do, which is take back control of our borders, it might be necessary in time to be open to looking at human rights law, because it seems that these judges, who are so often out of step with public opinion, are a blockage to us doing what we need to do?