§ Lord Greavesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which sites they are considering for use as accommodation centres for asylum seekers. [HL2300]
§ Lord RookerWe have identified eight sites as potential accommodation centre locations. These are:
- QinetiQ (formerly DERA) Pershore, Wychavon, Worcestershire
- RAF Hemswell, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire
- Sully Hospital, Cardiff
- Hooton Park, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
- MoD land, Bicester, Oxfordshire
- Air West Edinburgh (formerly RAF Turnhouse), Edinburgh
- RAF Newton, West Bridgeford, Nottinghamshire
- National Energy site, Killinghome, Grimsby
Site searching is continuing and the Home Office intends to invite suppliers to compete for the business of building or refurbishing the centres and for running them. Responses may be in respect of the identified sites or with ready-made solutions, involving sites of which we are not currently aware. It is therefore possible that further suitable sites may emerge.
The trial accommodation centres will have a total capacity of approximately 3,000 places. Therefore, in due course, around four of the most suitable sites will be selected for development as accommodation centres.