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Asylum seekers could be processed on old ferries Asylum seekers could be processed on old ferries
(about 1 hour later)
Ministers are understood to be considering converting disused ferries moored off the coast to process people seeking asylum in the UK. Ministers are considering converting disused ferries moored off the coast to process people seeking asylum in the UK.
Record numbers of people crossed the Channel to the UK in small boats last month, despite Home Secretary Priti Patel vowing to stop to the crossings. According to Refugee Action, 35,566 asylum applications were made in the UK in 2019 - down from a peak of 84,000 in 2002.
Downing Street said it was looking at what other countries do "to inform a plan for the UK."
Labour called the proposal to process people on ferries "unconscionable".Labour called the proposal to process people on ferries "unconscionable".
But Downing Street has said it is looking at what other countries do "to inform a plan for the UK." The most senior civil servant at the Home Office, Matthew Rycroft, said "everything is on the table" when it comes to "improving" the UK's asylum system.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told Parliament on Thursday the government was "actively looking at the steps that we can take" to stop illegal crossings in the English Channel so the UK can "maintain our commitment to providing a safe haven" but also "safeguard our borders". Home Secretary Priti Patel asked officials to look at policies, including housing people who are seeking asylum offshore.
Home Secretary Priti Patel asked officials to look at policies including housing people who are seeking asylum offshore.
On Tuesday, the Financial Times reported the Foreign Office had carried out an assessment for Ascension Island, a remote UK territory in the Atlantic Ocean - which included the practicalities of transferring migrants thousands of miles - and decided not to proceed.On Tuesday, the Financial Times reported the Foreign Office had carried out an assessment for Ascension Island, a remote UK territory in the Atlantic Ocean - which included the practicalities of transferring migrants thousands of miles - and decided not to proceed.
Now the Times reports that the government is giving "serious consideration" to the idea of buying retired ferries and converting them into processing centres, but it says the Home Office rejected a proposal to use decommissioned oil platforms in the North Sea.Now the Times reports that the government is giving "serious consideration" to the idea of buying retired ferries and converting them into processing centres, but it says the Home Office rejected a proposal to use decommissioned oil platforms in the North Sea.
The paper also says processing migrants on an island off the coast of Scotland had been considered, but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that "any proposal to treat human beings like cattle in a holding pen will be met with the strongest possible opposition from me".The paper also says processing migrants on an island off the coast of Scotland had been considered, but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that "any proposal to treat human beings like cattle in a holding pen will be met with the strongest possible opposition from me".
Asked about the story on ITV's Peston show, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said "I'm not going to comment on leaks from government. We do have a serious issue with illegal migration, and I'm always 100% behind the home secretary on that issue." Appearing before the Public Affairs Committee, Permanent Secretary Mr Rycroft said he would not comment on leaks to newspapers, but that the department was "brainstorming" ideas.
He said: "We've been looking at what a whole host of other countries do in order to bring innovation into our own system.
"No decisions have been taken. No final proposals have been put to ministers... this is in the realm of the brainstorming stage of a future policy."
Mr Rycroft said the UK would "always comply with all of our international obligations" and civil servants would "assess all of the various different possible ideas out there to see which are legal and which make operational sense… so that ministers can ultimately make decisions".
'Deterrent needed''Deterrent needed'
Nearly 7,000 people have reached the UK in more than 500 small boats this year.
By 23 September, 1,892 migrants had arrived during the month, more than in all of 2019.
Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said Labour would oppose any move to use ferries, adding: "Even considering this is appalling."Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said Labour would oppose any move to use ferries, adding: "Even considering this is appalling."
Conservative MP for Gravesham in Kent, Adam Holloway, said the Home Office was "completely right" to be looking at other options that were "some sort of deterrent" for asylum seekers. He accused the government of "lurching from one inhumane and impractical idea to another" and claimed it had "lost control and all sense of compassion".
The SNP's home affairs spokeswoman, Joanna Cherry, said the leaked plans showed "the callousness at the core" of the government, and the plans would "treat vulnerable asylum seekers as cattle rather than human beings".
But Conservative MP for Gravesham in Kent, Adam Holloway, said the Home Office was "completely right" to be looking at other options that were "some sort of deterrent" for asylum seekers.
He told Radio 4's Today programme: "We need to break the link in people's minds that if you get to Britain you're going to stay in Britain, you're going to stay in a hotel and you're going to be accommodated."He told Radio 4's Today programme: "We need to break the link in people's minds that if you get to Britain you're going to stay in Britain, you're going to stay in a hotel and you're going to be accommodated."
He added that the UK needed to find a "civilised version" of the model used by Australia, which has controversially used offshore processing and detention centres for asylum seekers since the 1980s.He added that the UK needed to find a "civilised version" of the model used by Australia, which has controversially used offshore processing and detention centres for asylum seekers since the 1980s.
A Home Office source said this week that ministers were looking at "every option that can stop small boat crossings and fix the asylum system". The discussion comes as record numbers of people are crossing the Channel to the UK, with 400 arriving in one day in September.
"The UK has a long and proud history of offering refuge to those who need protection. Tens of thousands of people have rebuilt their lives in the UK and we will continue to provide safe and legal routes in the future," they said. A Home Office source said this week that ministers were looking at "every option that can stop small boat crossings and fix the asylum system", but no final decisions had been made.
"As ministers have said we are developing plans to reform policies and laws around illegal migration and asylum to ensure we are able to provide protection to those who need it, while preventing abuse of the system and the criminality associated with it." Nearly 7,000 people have reached the UK in more than 500 small boats this year - by 23 September, 1,892 migrants had arrived during the month, more than in all of 2019.
No final decisions have been made. But they are still a small proportion of the asylum seekers coming to the UK.
Earlier in the Commons, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told Parliament the government was "actively looking at the steps that we can take" to stop illegal crossings in the English Channel so the UK can "maintain our commitment to providing a safe haven" but also "safeguard our borders".
Eligible for asylum
To be eligible for asylum in the UK, applicants must prove they cannot return to their home country because they fear persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, gender identity or sexual orientation.To be eligible for asylum in the UK, applicants must prove they cannot return to their home country because they fear persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, gender identity or sexual orientation.
A caseworker decides if they have a valid claim by taking into account factors such as the country of origin of the asylum seeker or evidence of discrimination.A caseworker decides if they have a valid claim by taking into account factors such as the country of origin of the asylum seeker or evidence of discrimination.
This is supposed to be done in six months but delays in processing claims have increased significantly in the last year.This is supposed to be done in six months but delays in processing claims have increased significantly in the last year.
While waiting for a decision to be made, asylum seekers are usually not allowed to work and are initially placed in hostel-type accommodation before longer-term housing is arranged.While waiting for a decision to be made, asylum seekers are usually not allowed to work and are initially placed in hostel-type accommodation before longer-term housing is arranged.