THURROCK MP Jackie Doyle Price rose on the floor of the House of Commons to ask a question regarding re-housing migrants.
Ms Doyle-Price said: “Could I just probe my right hon. Friend with regard to his proposals for housing migrants on barges and ferries?
“Specifically, could he advise on whether he expects those vessels to have access to the quay or to be moored offshore? If they are to have access to the quay, which I would expect, what conversations has he had with port operators about the operational challenges to their business from hosting what is essentially a residential community long-term?
Minister for Immigration, Robert Jenrick answered: If my hon. Friend will forgive me, I am not going to comment on press speculation. Obviously, I will make further statements should we proceed with any significant developments in this regard.
“I have pointed to examples in Scotland and in the Netherlands where the use of vessels has been successful. As my hon. Friend knows, we do not currently have the powers to detain individuals for prolonged periods of time, so any form of accommodation would be non-detained.
The full debate can be found below.
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2023-03-29a.1017.0&s=speaker%3A24957#g1033.3
I would more interested if she focused more on the prevailing problems of Thurrock.