Like most residents I was extremely concerned to be told on Tuesday afternoon that 130 people currently being held in the asylum system were on their way to Folkestone and would be staying at the Grand Burstin hotel. Along with the chief executive of Shepway District Council I have sought information from the Home Office about why this decision was made and how they intend to manage the situation. Yesterday I discussed this in detail with James Brokenshire MP, the Minister of State at the Home Office who oversees the asylum and immigration system.
The Minister has stated that all of the asylum seekers that have been placed in Folkestone will be moved on within two weeks; 30 have already departed. The decision to bring the asylum seekers to Folkestone was not made by Government Ministers, but by contractors who work for the Home Office who made the booking directly with the owners of the Burstin hotel. This decision was made at short notice to relieve overcrowding at the accommodation in London where they were previously held. Most of the people being held in this accommodation in London have been moved to other locations in the UK. Less than a quarter were moved to Folkestone.
I have asked the Minister to review this process as I do not believe that the Burstin is an appropriate place to accommodate asylum seekers. He has also stated that the government intends to provide more secure accommodation for people in the asylum system, and to end the practise of using hotels in this way.
Finally, the Minister has made clear that the asylum seekers will not have access to local services whilst they are staying in Folkestone. Any that need urgent health care will be moved to an asylum seeker centre to receive it, rather than being treated here. Their subsistence will be covered by the Home Office, and our local councils will not be asked to provide any support to them.