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A Government minister today refused to say when the first asylum seekers will be housed on the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset.
The vessel has been moored in Portland and it was previously expected an initial group of people would be sent to the accommodation today.
But Richard Holden, a minister at the Department for Transport, this morning said the barge was still undergoing ‘final checks’.
He conceded he couldn’t ‘put a timeframe’ on when the Bibby Stockholm would be in use.
Downing Street has confirmed the final preparations for the vessel include fire safety checks to ensure it meets with regulations.
It comes amid reports of serious fire safety concerns with the barge and fears it could become a ‘floating Grenfell’.
Richard Holden, a minister at the Department for Transport, this morning said the Bibby Stockholm barge was still undergoing ‘final checks’
The vessel has been moored in Portland and it was previously expected an initial group of people would be sent to the accommodation today
There are reports of serious fire safety concerns with the barge and fears it could become a ‘floating Grenfell’
Asked on Sky News this morning when the Bibby Stockholm would be up and running as an accommodation facility for asylum seekers, Mr Holden said: ‘It’s going through its final checks at the moment.
‘It’s right that… whatever accommodation we provide is safe and secure as well. I can’t put a timeframe on it.’
Pressed on whether safety concerns were behind a delay in people being moved ont the barge, Mr Holden replied: ‘It’s going through final checks at the moment. With anything you’d want them to be properly checked out.’
He added: ‘The checks are going to take as long as they’re going to take. It’s important we get these things right.’
The delay to the Bibby Stockholm is the latest setback to Rishi Sunak’s plans to overhaul Britain’s asylum system in the face of the Channel migrant crisis.
The Prime Minister has also seen proposals to send asylum seekers to Rwanda repeatedly delayed due to legal challenges.
Asked if use of the Bibby Stockholm would be delayed as long as the Rwanda policy – first announced more than a year ago – has taken to implement, Mr Holden said: ‘I can’t comment on the ongoing process of checks and things that have to take place but it is my understanding (it is) in its final checks.’
A view of inside one of the bedrooms onboard the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge, which will house up to 500 asylum seekers, at Portland Port
The Government plans to use the vessel, which includes a gym (pictured), as part of efforts to remove asylum seekers from hotel rooms
The Times yesterday reported serious fire safety concerns about the Bibby Stockholm barge, with fire service approval pending.
One source told the newspaper of fears that the vessel could become a ‘floating Grenfell’, in reference to the west London tower block tragedy in 2017.
Asked about the report, the PM’s press secretary said on Monday: ‘The Bibby Stockholm is currently undergoing final preparations including fire safety checks.
‘That’s happening this week to ensure that it complies with all the appropriate regulations.
‘There’s been refurbishment that’s been ongoing to ensure it complies with the marine industry safety regulations.
‘As you’d expect, we continue to work extremely closely with the local council… to ensure the right preparations are in place before anyone boards.’
It has been claimed that plans to move migrants into RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire have also been delayed.
The proposal to move 2,000 migrants into the RAF camp has reportedly been postponed until October, after setbacks in conducting surveys on the 14 buildings designated for migrant accommodation.
The PM’s press secretary said: ‘Work is ongoing to open the site at Scampton and we want that work to be done as soon as possible.
‘I can’t get into running commentary on expected timelines but eventually the site will accommodate almost 2,000 people.’
The Times also reported the Home Office will this week move more migrants into accommodation at RAF Wethersfield, despite a number of positive results for tuberculosis being detected at the site in Braintree, Essex.
A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites and vessels will provide cheaper and more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats.
‘The Bibby Stockholm is now undergoing final preparations to ensure it complies with all appropriate regulations before the arrival of the first asylum seekers in the coming weeks.
‘In addition, the Home Office is working with stakeholders on a carefully structured plan to increase the number of asylum seekers at Wethersfield in a phased approach.’
