Thurs 1st April 2004

VIGGERS WELCOMES HUGHES’ RESIGNATION

Peter Viggers, Member of Parliament for Gosport, said today:

“By resigning Beverley Hughes has done the right thing.

But this does not change the fact that the Government’s entire asylum and immigration policy is in anarchy. When a new Minister is appointed, he or she will have to start from scratch in formulating a policy that will work and can be effectively policed.”

Tues 3rd February 2004

VIGGERS CELEBRATES HOME OFFICE U-TURN ON DAEDALUS

Peter Viggers, MP for the Gosport constituency, is this morning celebrating the decision of the Home Office not to proceed with a planning application for an asylum accommodation centre at the Daedalus site in Lee-on-the-Solent.
A written statement from the Home Office this morning reads:

ACCOMMODATION CENTRES FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS

Following a careful and detailed assessment of HMS Daedalus in Gosport as a potential accommodation centre for asylum seekers, we have concluded that the difficulties associated with the conversion of historic buildings and the creation of a suitable access point into the site mean that we will no longer be pursuing this site for the purposes of the trial. I can confirm that we will not be proceeding with a planning notification for this site.

“It remains our intention to include within the trial of accommodation centres at least one centre which is smaller than the 750 bed model, and is located in, or near, an urban area. We are still in discussions with the Refugee Council about the core and cluster model proposed by them. We will not be putting details of potential sites into the public domain unless and until they appear to be a good prospect for the siting of accommodation centre.”
More response later…

ASYLUM UPDATE

It was announced on 21 January that the High Court has agreed to hear an appeal for a judicial review about the decision by the Deputy Prime Minister to agree that an accommodation centre should go ahead at Bicester.

The Planning Inspector recommended that the application by the Home Office be turned down. Instead, as we know, the Deputy Prime Minister agreed that the application should go ahead.

The judicial review is currently planned to announce its conclusions in March 2004, but it is possible that this programme will slip.

Peter Viggers said, “The application for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester is of course relevant to the proposal for an accommodation centre on the Daedalus site at Lee-on-the-Solent. We are, therefore, taking a keen interest in the subject. The Deputy Prime Minister must take decisions in this area on a quasi-judicial basis and I therefore put down a Parliamentary Question on this subject in the House of Commons in December 2003. I attach a copy of that question and the answer I have now received. I would maintain that the Deputy Prime Minister did not act in a quasi-judicial capacity when dealing with the Bicester application and I anticipate this Question and Answer will help to illuminate the judicial review. We are all following the subject very closely.”

Question – To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what factors are taken into account when he takes a decision in a quasi-judicial capacity; and how these differ from the factors he takes into account normally.

Answer (Keith Hill, Minister for Housing and Planning) – Quasi-judicial powers are administrative powers, which must be exercised in accordance with the rules of natural justice. In taking quasi-judicial decisions, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister must act and be seen to act fairly and even-handedly, by bringing an unbiased and properly directed mind to his consideration of the matter. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister must take into account all relevant matters and not take into account irrelevant ones. These factors do not necessarily differ from the factors to be taken into account in other decisions but there may be a different degree of scrutiny by the courts.

VIGGERS: MINISTER BACKTRACKING ON ASYLUM CENTRE

Peter Viggers, MP for the Gosport constituency, has this week forced the Home Office to admit that plans have been drawn up for the development and expansion of the Immigration and Removal Centre at Haslar – despite denials that any such plans were proposed.

Peter said, “Following information I received from a reliable source, I questioned the Minister, Beverley Hughes, last month in the House of Commons. On several occasions she stated that there were no plans for any development or expansion at Haslar.

“This week, I asked whether plans had indeed been drawn up by the Capita group, and she acknowledged that ‘indicative plans’ were prepared for some expansion and improvement to Haslar Removal Centre but there is no intention at this point to take these plans forward.

“I believe that it would have been better for the Home Office to have disclosed the existence of these plans to me when I originally asked questions in the House, but at no stage before now has she even acknowledged that had been drawn up. Obviously I am pleased that the Government does not intend to pursue development of the centre at this stage, as I was concerned that Gosport was scheduled to become a major base for those in the asylum system. If that happened, the town could have a population of asylum seekers approaching 1000 in number, with 400 at the accommodation centre in Lee-on-the-Solent and a further 480 at the Immigration Removal Centre at Haslar.

“The issue is deeply worrying and I will continue to monitor the situation carefully.”

HOUSE OF COMMONS

WRITTEN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO HOME OFFICE MINISTER BEVERLEY HUGHES

Removal Centre (Haslar)

October 6th, 2003

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are for the development of the removal centre at Haslar.
Beverley Hughes: There are no plans at present to develop the removal centre at Haslar.

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have been held with Gosport borough council about the development of the removal centre at Haslar.
Beverley Hughes: No meetings have taken place with Gosport borough council about the development of the removal centre at Haslar. There are currently no plans to extend or develop Haslar.

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what planning procedure and public consultation the Government propose to undertake with regard to development of the removal centre at Haslar.
Beverley Hughes: If we planned any development of the removal centre at Haslar, we would consult with the council and other interested parties at a very early stage. There are however no plans for any development or expansion at Haslar.

November 17th, 2003

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans other than those proposed by his Department have been put forward for the extension of the Haslar Removal Centre; and what the planned new accommodation total is in the proposals put forward by (a) his Department and (b) other bodies.
Beverley Hughes: Indicative plans were prepared which look at a number of options to extend Haslar. However, these were simply architectural sketch plans and no detailed plans have been prepared. No plans have been submitted for planning approval and at this time there is no intention of doing so. There are currently no plans to expand the Removal Centre at Haslar.

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans for the extension of Haslar Removal Centre have been produced by Capita.
Beverley Hughes: Indicative plans were prepared by Capita for some expansion and improvement to Haslar Removal Centre, but we have no plans at present to take this forward.

ASYLUM UPDATE

On Sunday 28 September, members of the Daedalus Action Group, together with members of the Newton and Bicester Action Groups, travelled to the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth to present an open letter requesting a review of the Government's policy on the introduction of asylum centres.

Peter had made a request to the Prime Minister for a Government representative to meet protestors in order to receive the letter, but was informed that the letter would instead have to be presented to a police officer at the conference centre.

Peter was unhappy at Downing Street's refusal to permit a more appropriate person to receive the letter, believing that it was vital for the Government to acknowledge the strength of opposition from residents of the communities affected. He encouraged the DAG and local councillors to demand an alternative, and Peter was delighted to see that, on the day, pressure resulted in a change of heart, with the letter instead being received by Chris Lennie, the Labour Party's deputy General Secretary.

Latest September 2003

Still no decision has been taken on the proposal to introduce an accommodation centre for asylum seekers at the former HMS Daedalus site in Lee-on-the-Solent. However, campaigning has continued both locally and in Parliament.

Meanwhile, there has been bad news in respect of the proposal for a centre in Bicester. The Deputy Prime Minister has overruled a strong recommendation by the planning inspector not to proceed with the site, despite apparent assurances by the Home Office Minister, Beverly Hughes on 5th November last year, when she told the Commons that.....

"The Government have made it clear that we will abide by the planning process, and by the outcome of any public enquiry."

However, in the case of Bicester, Mr Prescott has opted to over rule the planning inspector's advice, and to press on with the development of an accommodation site there despite the decision.

Background to the Lee-on-Solent proposal

At the beginning of February, the Home Office indicated its interest in establishing an asylum centre at the Daedalus site in Lee-on-the-Solent. The proposal was to house approximately 400 young, single men for 6-7 weeks (with a maximum of 6-9 months) at a time whilst their applications for asylum were processed. During that time, they would be allowed complete freedom of movement within the community but would not be permitted to work.

Once the news was made public, tremendous local opposition to the scheme developed very quickly. Thousands of residents attended public meetings and rallies, actively supported by Peter, and by local councillors, and on 20th February, Gosport Borough Council formally resolved to object to the proposals.

Peter says, "It is my view - and that of the majority of local residents - that the quiet residential area of Lee-on-the-Solent is simply not a suitable place to house so many young men in these circumstances. I fully appreciate the fact that a number of these people are attempting to flee hardship and danger in their home countries, but it is completely unrealistic to imagine that they would be successfully into such a small community which does not have the facilities or infrastructure to support them.

"The Minister has made much of the fact that accommodation centres should be located in "an urban environment". Lee-on-the-Solent is absolutely not an urban environment, being a quiet area with a high proportion of retired residents. Such a centre would be completely alien to the local environment.

"It is encouraging that we have a united view across all political parties, and every effort will be made to persuade the Government that Daedalus is not a suitable place for this centre. I promise to use all the Parliamentary weapons available to fight this proposal."

In May, after repeated requests from Peter for the Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Community Cohesion, Beverley Hughes, to see the area for herself, she finally agreed to visit Lee-on-the-Solent. She was greeted at the gates by a number of local residents who made their opposition to the proposal clear.

Peter said, " I asked the Minister to walk through Lee-on-the-Solent in order to see the local area, and to hear the concerns of residents. Although she did not do this, she did meet with local Councillors and other representatives who were able to press upon the concern felt by local people, and I hope that she will take these views into account."

Peter also raised the subject of Immigration and Daedalus in particular during a Whitsun Adjournment debate speech to Members in the House of Commons. This is the main text from his speech:

"From small beginnings, about 80,000 people sought to come to this country in 2000. In 2002, the number of people trying to come to this country rose to 110,000, of whom the Home Office decided that about 10,000 were entitled to political asylum as they were genuinely in fear of persecution in their original place of residence. Of the remaining 100,000, about 20,000 were given exceptional leave to remain in the short term. That means that about 30% of all applicants remained here by permission. Something like 13,000 applicants left - or said they were going to leave - and the remainder, who were not given leave to remain, have remained here anyway.

"As the Minister for Citizenship and Immigration told the House three weeks ago:

"Because refugees have to enter countries illegally, one of the perverse effects of the current system is that it has fuelled the rise of the criminal gangs that smuggle people for profit".

"We really cannot go on as we are. We need a different system, and the Conservative Party has proposed one. We expected it to be greeted with some surprise, as it is very dramatic, but it seems to have been received quite quietly. The plan is to screen applicants for political asylum not in this country, but outside it. That is the system in Australia, and it has achieved some success. Indeed, this Government are considering screening political asylum applicants outside the country. The Home Secretary has suggested to his colleagues in Europe the possibility that we might screen political asylum seekers in Albania, Bulgaria and Romania. If the Government decide to follow the Conservative line and screen people outside the UK, we Conservatives will not criticise them for stealing our policies. On this occasion, we will congratulate them.

"As matters stand, however, we have to live with the existing system. The Government have proposed some possible locations for accommodation centres, where asylum seekers would be housed on a short-term basis. I say "short term" because it appears that, within two months of being sent to an accommodation centre, asylum seekers will be told whether they are being given permission to stay here, or exceptional leave to remain.

"Of course, asylum seekers who are turned down can appeal. That process can take another six months, so the prospect is that people will remain in these accommodation centres for quite some time. Two such centres, at Newton and Bicester, are currently under consideration. In February, the Government announced that they were contemplating establishing a third centre at Daedalus, a former Royal Navy air station at Lee-on-the-Solent, which was closed some years ago.

"The proposal was greeted by people in the area with incredulity, dismay and anger. The Daedalus Action Group rapidly formed, and I pay tribute to the enormous amount of work that it has done. It has raised a petition signed by 32,000 people, and organised meetings - I addressed a meeting of 8,500 people on the cliff tops at Lee-on-the-Solent - and a march through the town.

"When the Minister for Citizenship and Immigration telephoned me to tell me of her decision to contemplate Lee-on-the-Solent as a centre for asylum seekers, she said, "Come on, Peter, 400 hundred young men" - which is what the proposal might entail - "is less than 1% of the population of your constituency". However, that is not the right way to look at the matter. Daedalus' main gates are located next to a very quiet part of the residential area of Lee-on-the-Solent, which is a quiet and attractive seaside location, with a population of just over 6,000 people. The 400 young men proposed to be located at the Daedalus site would account for about 6% of the Lee-on-the-Solent population. They would have a devastating effect on an area that is very popular with retired people, and which is exceptionally quiet.

"The organisations that support refugees' interests, such as the Refugee Council and the Immigration Advisory Service, all say that applicants for political asylum in this country - would-be immigrants - should be located in an urban environment, near to other people from their own countries. In both senses, Lee-on-the-Solent is supremely unsuitable. It is definitely not an urban environment, being very quiet, and it has no immigrant population at all. Very few people from the main immigrant countries - Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Turkey, and the former Republic of Yugoslavia - even visit the area.

"If - heaven forbid - the proposal were to go ahead, the burden on local services would be enormous. People living in the accommodation centre would be given primary medical care, but of course would rely on local hospital services for secondary and tertiary care. There is already a strain on doctors' services, and there are no dentists taking new NHS patients in the Gosport constituency. There are 3,000 people waiting on the Fareham and Gosport housing list, and there are 200 homeless people in the area. The burden on schools would be intolerable. It is no surprise that the residents of Lee-on-the-Solent, as well as Gosport and Fareham Councils and Hampshire County Council, have committed themselves to opposing the proposition absolutely and totally.

In April, Peter led a group of campaigners into Downing Street to present a 32,000 signature petition against the centre, a petition which was also signed by Shadow Home Secretary, Oliver Letwin on his visit to the site. Locally, members of the Daedalus Action Group have met with the co-ordinators of similar groups in Bicester and Newton in order to draw upon their experiences.

"It must not proceed."

If you wish to write to the Home Office about this issue, you can write to:

Ms Beverley Hughes MP
Minister for Citizenship and Immigration
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate
St James Park
London SW1H 9AT