Asylum Minister Alex Norris tells Fergus Ewing no final decision has been made on Cameron Barracks. Photo Credit for Alex Norris: Photo Fatma Al-Baiti / Home Office.
The UK government’s controversial proposal to house 300 male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks in Inverness is still mired in indecision despite provoking uproar.
After triggering almost unprecedented division, asylum minister Alex Norris has now revealed in a letter to local MSP Fergus Ewing that “no final decision has been made” over the site.
The controversial announcement last October led to opposing demonstrations and protests in Inverness High Street and outside the barracks, as well as huge unease locally.
The first arrivals were originally expected last month. It was then reported that they would arrive this month.
Bodies who would normally be heavily involved with operational matters were effectively excluded and communication repeatedly broke down.
Highland Council was forced to convene a special meeting in part to confirm that it knew next to nothing about the proposal before it was announced.
Now, Mr Ewing has been told the plan’s future is uncertain because “the Home Office is currently assessing feasibility and compliance requirements”.
The Inverness and Nairn MSP believes that is “possibly welcome that there appears at the very least to be some kind of re-consideration” while voicing frustration.
He said “the obvious point” is that “surely these requirements should have been assessed before making any announcement”.
The letter to Mr Ewing echoes the one received earlier this month by local councillor Isabelle MacKenzie, who was also told by someone in the Home Office’s briefing and correspondence team that no decision was made.
Amid unanswered questions, she was told that “feasibility assessments for the site are ongoing, and as such no final decision on our use of the site has been made”.
Mr Ewing said: “Back in November the Home Office confirmed to me that the use of Cameron Barracks would definitely go ahead.
“Now the minister for border security and asylum, Alex Norris MP, has written to me on January 14 stating that, and I quote: ‘I want to reassure you that no final decision has been made. The Home office is currently assessing feasibility and compliance requirements.’
“Setting aside the obvious point that surely these requirements should have been assessed before making any announcement, it is possibly welcome that there appears at the very least to be some kind of re-consideration.
“I have argued alongside others that the Cameron Barracks is just not suitable as a location for up to 300 young men with average age of 25 with nothing to do, time on their hands, thrust into accommodation of fairly spartan nature and close to the city centre and schools.
“My constituents have expressed to me very serious and genuine concerns not based on racism. I will therefore continue to argue the case, not least that the barracks would require change of use permission before it could be used as an asylum.
“I understand that Ed Mountain MSP has also argued this case and will seek to press the Scottish Government on this as well to see if they will add their support, and not continue to sit on the fence on this issue.”
In his letter dated January 14, Mr Norris outlined why the barracks was selected.
He wrote: “This site was chosen because it is self-contained, secure, and designed to minimise pressure on local services. It will operate for a limited period (12 months) before returning to Ministry of Defence use.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris. Photo by: Fatma Al-Baiti / Home Office.
Letter from Alex Norris:
“I want to reassure you that no final decision has been made. The Home Office is currently assessing feasibility and compliance requirements. Should a decision be taken to proceed, we will engage with the relevant partners to ensure that any arrangements are safe, compliant and managed appropriately.
“I recognise the importance of transparency and community confidence. I also note your constituent’s concerns about the safety of women and children within the community. Please be assured that the Home Office takes the safety and security of local communities extremely seriously.”
The most recent response The Inverness Courier received from the Home Office – which has routinely ignored our questions – was not to provide any response at all.
In an answer to a media inquiry, we were sent “background” including how it is the Home Office’s longstanding policy not to comment on individual asylum accommodation sites.
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