Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the potential cost to her Department of staffing and supplying cruise ships for the purpose of accommodation for asylum seekers.

The government has a legal obligation under Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to provide asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute with accommodation and other support whilst their claim for asylum is being considered.

Ongoing work across government is being undertaken to identify and secure alternative, more appropriate, cost-effective accommodation options around the country.

In exploring potential alternative large sites, we continue to consider all available options to source more appropriate and cost-effective temporary accommodation.