Anger as asylum seekers forced to stay in Aberdeen hotel for a year

The Home Office is being urged to resolve applications made by asylum seekers facing lengthy stays in hotel accommodation in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen South MP Stephen Flynn raised the plight of the “very many people” who have waited a year for applications to be processed.

The SNP politician said retaining people in a hotel this long falls “far short” of what is expected, after raising the issue in the Commons.

It is understood around 100 asylum seekers are living in the Brentwood Hotel on Crown Street.

The UK Government has come under pressure in recent days after overcrowding at the Manston immigration processing centre in Kent. 

In 2019, the Home Office awarded new asylum accommodation and support services contracts to three private companies, including Mears Group in Scotland.

UK minister hits out at Scottish councils

Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Mr Flynn asked Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick to confirm when the issue would be resolved.

The Tory minister said: “We are working hard now to accelerate decision-making so that individuals can either be granted asylum or be removed from the country.

“I would say, however, there is a marked trend in the data which is that some Scottish local authorities are taking a disproportionately low number of asylum seekers in every respect.

“So the first useful thing the honourable gentleman could do is go back to the local authorities controlled by the SNP in Scotland and ask them to step up.”

Speaking to the Press and Journal, Mr Flynn said: “As a society we must always judge ourselves on how we treat others – retaining people in hotel rooms for well in excess of a year falls far short of what we should expect.

“Rather than address the matter, the minister tried to blame the local council – a blatant lie and a sad indictment of a Tory government long past caring and a Home Office in disarray.”

‘Incredible strain’

Mr Jenrick said there had been a “significant reduction” in the number of people at the Manston site.

He said numbers were now “back below” its maximum capacity of 1,600 after more than 2,300 migrants were moved to other accommodation.

A total of 40,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year.

The immigration minister told MPs he wants to end the use of of hotels to house migrants and said the government may need to use “some larger sites to provide decent but basic accommodation”.

A Home Office spokesman said: “The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain.

“The use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable – there are currently more than 37,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £5.6million a day.

“The use of hotels is a short-term solution and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation.”

Hotels used as a ‘contingency’

A Mears Group spokesman said: “Due to the rise in the number of people seeking asylum and a shortage of suitable accommodation, hotels are being used as a contingency by the Home Office across the UK, including in Aberdeen.

“Mears role, as contractor to the Home Office, is to place service users and support them while in accommodation.

“We are working to arrange moves to suitable alternative accommodation as soon as possible.

“Mears has assessed hotels prior to using them, to ensure they are of an appropriate standard.

“All hotels that we have used offer en-suite rooms, with TV and wi-fi access and 24 hour reception.

“Three meals a day are provided to all services users, menus meet NHS Eat Well standards and are nutritionally balanced. Snacks and drinks are available throughout the day.”