Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration her Department has given to withdrawing the Urgent Crown Development application for Site A at MoD Bicester and pursuing the proposal through the Crown Development procedure instead.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
No final decision has been made as to whether to use MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
The Home Office has submitted an Urgent Crown Development application to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in relation to the proposed use of MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
The Urgent Crown Development route does not predetermine the outcome, nor does it lessen the scrutiny applied to the proposal.
The proposal remains subject to the planning process, wider due diligence, and all relevant assessments and approvals. Decisions on the planning application are being made independently by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to confirm the maximum number of service users that her department proposes will be accommodated at MOD Bicester (A-site).
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
No final decision has been made as to whether to use MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
The planning application seeks temporary planning permission for a phased development accommodating up to 1,256 people, together with the necessary welfare, security and site infrastructure.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what lessons from the operation of existing large asylum accommodation sites have been applied to the assessment of proposals for the use of Site A at MoD Bicester.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
No final decision has been made as to whether to use MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
The Home Office keeps the asylum estate under regular review, including learning from previous proposals and existing accommodation sites, to ensure any future accommodation is suitable.
We will draw on lessons learned from previous assessment work and our other more recently successful large site stand ups to ensure a more robust, transparent, and informed approach. This will include strengthened engagement with local partners, alongside ensuring that appropriate infrastructure, services and operational arrangements are in place.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has reviewed whether the proposed use of Site A at MoD Bicester continues to meet the criteria for an Urgent Crown Development following the submission of the application on 2 September 2026.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
No final decision has been made as to whether to use MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
The Home Office has submitted an Urgent Crown Development application to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in relation to the proposed use of MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation. Planning forms part of the wider feasibility and due diligence work for MOD Bicester. The Urgent Crown Development route does not predetermine the outcome, nor does it lessen the scrutiny applied to the proposal.
The proposal remains subject to the planning process, wider due diligence, and all relevant assessments and approvals. Decisions on the planning application are being made independently by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the current expected date is for Site A at MoD Bicester to become operational as asylum accommodation.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
No final decision has been made as to whether to use MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
Suitability assessments are ongoing and will consider a range of factors including safety, security, operational deliverability, planning requirement and the impact on local services and communities.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procurement activity has been undertaken in relation to the potential operation of asylum accommodation at Site A at MoD Bicester.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
No final decision has been made as to whether to use MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation and no contractual agreements have been awarded to run or use the site for asylum accommodation. The site remains subject to ongoing feasibility, planning, design, assurance and governance processes.
Throughout the development of potential accommodation sites, information is managed in accordance with normal government requirements, including obligations relating to security, commercial sensitivity, policy development and procurement activity where applicable.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to answer Question 26825 tabled by the hon. Member for Bicester and Woodstock on 2 September 2026.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
UIN 26825 was transferred to the Cabinet Office for answer.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Department's Accounting Officer has reviewed proposals for Site A at MoD Bicester against the principles of Managing Public Money.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
No decision has been made in respect of the use of MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation. Due diligence and assurance work for all proposed large sites including Bicester is still ongoing.
This includes assessing accurate costings. Once complete, business cases and approvals will be sought and details published in the normal way for all Major Government Programmes.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contracts have been awarded in connection with proposals to use Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
No final decision has been made on whether to use MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation and no contractual agreements have been awarded to run or use the site for asylum accommodation. The site remains subject to ongoing feasibility, planning, design, assurance and governance processes.
Throughout the development of potential accommodation sites, information is managed in accordance with normal government requirements, including obligations relating to security, commercial sensitivity, policy development and procurement activity where applicable
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much expenditure has been incurred by her Department in connection with proposals to use Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation, broken down by category of expenditure.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
No decision has been made in respect of the use of MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation. Due diligence and assurance work for all proposed large sites including Bicester is still ongoing.
This includes assessing accurate costings. Once complete, business cases and approvals will be sought and details published in the normal way for all Government Major Programmes.