Home Office allocates £1.9 million for asylum centre marquees
The Home Office is spending £1.9 million on marquees for an asylum centre at Manston in Kent, where small boat migrants are temporarily housed for 24 hours before being transferred elsewhere, reports BritPanorama.
Merseyside firm Speedy Asset Services has been contracted to provide these tents, typically used for events like music festivals and exhibitions. The decision to invest in these marquees comes amid ongoing concerns over the influx of small boat arrivals, which reached 41,472 last year.
As the situation persists, the Home Office has opted to purchase the marquees outright to ensure a stable solution for accommodating migrants. A spokesperson stated that “every purchase is always made to ensure the best value for money for the taxpayer.”
This decision follows a government inquiry into conditions at Manston in 2022, where a diphtheria outbreak resulted in the death of a 31-year-old Iraqi man. Reports indicated that thousands of migrants had to sleep on cardboard due to a lack of adequate space.
The announcement about the tent contract comes in light of recent revelations regarding the closure of the initial processing centre in Dover for urgent repairs. Migrants arriving by inflatable dinghies are subsequently taken by Border Force catamarans to the port for initial health checks and searches.
Upon arrival, these migrants will now be directed to Ramsgate, located 15 miles away, where they will receive health checks and dry clothing before being taken to Manston asylum centre for initial interviews with Border Force personnel.
This development highlights the ongoing challenges in managing the UK’s response to small boat migration and the logistical adaptations being made by the government.
In the broader context, the UK continues to grapple with rising numbers of asylum seekers amidst complex geopolitical dynamics that drive migration patterns. As government responses evolve, the balance between security, humanitarian needs, and public sentiment remains a focal issue.
