UK Home Office Faces Criticism Over £100 Million Asylum Housing Waste

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A report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed that the UK Home Office wasted nearly £100 million on plans to house asylum seekers, highlighting a "dysfunctional culture" within the department. The report examined the controversial acquisition of the £15.4 million HMP Northeye, a former airbase in Bexhill-on-Sea, which experts warned was riddled with asbestos and other hazards.

The PAC criticized senior civil servants for ignoring available expert advice and bypassing crucial financial safeguards. The chair of the committee, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, described the purchase as "rushed and misjudged." Additionally, £34 million spent on the Bibby Stockholm barge, which had far fewer occupants than planned, and another £60 million on a site at RAF Scampton that was abandoned, contribute to the total waste.

In response to these findings, a Home Office spokesperson stated that the Northeye site would not be progressed to ensure taxpayers' money is prioritized. The report urges the Home Office to demonstrate how it plans to prevent further public spending waste and improve the integration of asylum seekers.

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