Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department was aware of the presence of asbestos at Napier barracks in Kent when it authorised the site to house people seeking asylum in the UK.
We expect the highest standards from our providers and we provide asylum seekers with safe, warm, suitable accommodation that is fit for purpose and correctly equipped in line with existing asylum accommodation standards and contractual requirements.
Risk assessments for the site included consideration of asbestos, given as with many older properties the possibility that asbestos may be present. The risk assessment concluded there was minimal risk through use of the buildings.
In tackling the fire on 29 January, Kent Fire and Rescue Services confirmed that the risk from asbestos remained minimal, and firefighters followed full asbestos procedures and protocols in the course of their duties.