§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington), 14 April 2000,Official Report, column 292W, if he will provide a breakdown, by major category, of the weekly unit cost of housing an asylum seeker at Oakington reception centre (a) at present and (b) when the centre is operating at full capacity; and if he will provide a breakdown of the costs incurred in establishing Oakington reception centre. [134855]
§ Mrs. RocheOakington was set up in March 2000 with an initial capacity of 144 beds. Asylum seekers were taken in on a carefully phased programme. The set up costs to date amount to about £5 million and are expected to reach £6 million.
In September (the last full month for which figures are available), the average daily population was 101 and the weekly unit cost was £2,700. Occupancy has since increased rapidly and is now 176 resulting in a reduction in the unit cost which will continue to fall as the population increases to full capacity. When operating at full capacity, the cost would be £800 per person.
These figures are higher than those given in the reply to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 14 April. The first figure in that reply was based on the cost of an available space. It appears that the second figure may not have included all the costs of the establishment.