Lord German Questions Lessons Learned from Large-Scale Asylum Sites

Lord German spoke at a Lords Chamber debate on large-scale asylum accommodation sites. He tabled a question to ask the Government how they will ensure that lessons learned from the operation of Napier Barracks and the RAF Wethersfield sites will be applied to new sites from the outset.

He asked specifically about the cost and efficiency of transporting individuals long distances for video conferencing interviews. He suggested that conducting interviews on-site would be more practical and cost-effective.

Lord Hanson, the Lords Home Office Minister, said that the Government believes due diligence on accommodation sites has improved since 2024 and that value-for-money assessments are now undertaken at the appropriate stage. He also stated that lessons from previous large site acquisitions are being applied to future procurement decisions and that interviews will in future take place on-site.