Steven McKenzieBBC Scotland
BBC
Cameron Barracks is a 140-year-old army recruitment base
Highland Council says plans to house asylum seekers at an Inverness barracks presents the local authority with “new and complex challenges”.
Cameron Barracks is to be used to provide temporary accommodation for about 300 men as part of UK government efforts to close asylum hotels.
The 140-year-old army recruitment base, near Inverness city centre, has previously been used to house Afghan families.
But ahead of a special meeting on Thursday, Highland Council said the Home Office proposals were “unlike any previous resettlement experienced here”.
Last week, Minister of State at the Home Office Alex Norris was challenged at Westminster on the suitability of the barracks.
Norris said any impact on communities would be “minimised” and the security of people living in surrounding areas was “paramount”.
He insisted last week his officials had engaged with the Scottish government and local service providers.
‘Key questions’
In the report to Thursday’s special meeting of the full council, Highland Council officials have recommended the local authority writes to the Home Office to seek “urgent clarity” on the proposals.
The officers said: “At the point of writing, there remains a lack of detail as regards what the Home Office proposals will mean, with key questions outstanding in relation to the specifics around implementation, community safeguarding and impact on local services.
“Whilst Highland has always been, and will continue to be, a welcoming place for those seeking a safe place to live, the Home Office proposals are unlike any previous resettlement schemes experienced here and present new and complex challenges.”
PA Media
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said there were “unanswered questions” over the plans
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville called for “urgent clarification” on what impacts housing asylum seekers in Inverness will have on health, policing and other local services.
Somerville said she had sought a number of reassurances from the UK government after meeting with UK Asylum Minister Alex Norris.
She said: “The Home Office must provide urgent clarity to stop the spread of disinformation amongst communities in Inverness.
“Scotland welcomes refugees and people seeking asylum but it is vital that the Home Office provides clear communication and reassurances on the impact on local services.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels.
“This government will close every asylum hotel. Work is well underway to move illegal migrants into military bases to ease pressure on communities across the country.”
The spokesperson added: “We are working closely with local authorities, property partners and across-government so that we can accelerate delivery.”