MPs have expressed concern over the living conditions of asylum seekers on the UK’s only migrant barge. The Home Affairs Committee visited the Bibby Stockholm moored at Portland in Dorset and reported seeing “small, cramped cabins” that are detrimental to the residents’ mental health. The crowded conditions could be considered a violation of human rights, the MPs warned the Home Office. One resident reportedly even had thoughts of suicide due to the overcrowding. The cost of housing asylum claimants on the barge is £120 per person per night compared with the latest average of £140 in hotels.
The vessel, which first came into use in August, can house up to 500 men and was part of the government’s plans to cut the cost of hotel accommodation for asylum seekers. Labour MP and Chairwoman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Dame Diana Johnson, wrote to the Home Office following the visit, calling for mental health support for the residents and pointing out very limited access to religious services for Muslims.
The committee accused the Home Office of giving inconsistent information regarding GP services for those onboard, including a lack of access to services for vulnerable individuals. In December, an Albanian asylum seeker, Leonard Farruku, was found unresponsive on the barge and died. The committee allegedly found discrepancies between the accounts of officials and asylum seekers themselves regarding access to health and social care services, contributing to Farruku’s death.
The Home Office defended the living conditions and insisted that residents had access to health and social care services, including mental health support, and that screening processes were in place to identify vulnerable individuals and ensure they are placed in appropriate accommodation. Home Secretary James Cleverly said he was confident the Bibby Stockholm met all legal requirements
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