CAROLINE NOKES, the former Conservative immigration minister has criticised the Home Office’s decision to use army barracks as accommodation for asylum seekers.

The decision to house asylum seekers in such conditions is believed to have been taken in order to make the country appear “as difficult and inhospitable as possible.”

Nokes has called for asylum seekers to be placed in supportive housing with access to decent facilities, rather than being “segregated into a ghetto.”

Nokes is supported by other backbench Conservative MPs who have barracks in their constituencies, and are concerned about their use.

Napier barracks is in the Folkestone and Hythe constituency, where Damian Collins is the local MP.

Richard Fuller is the MP for North East Bedfordshire, where there is a new barracks-style development close to the Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre.

Human rights charities such as the Red Cross and Care4Calais have also condemned the quality of accommodation available for asylum seekers, many of whom have fled war and torture in their home countries.

They report that some of these asylum seekers are dealing with nightmares and flashbacks as a result of their treatment.

“We as a nation can do better than this,” said Nokes.

“The Home Office really needs to get its act together. They need to revamp the accommodation contracts and put in place more contracts for supported accommodation.”

She later said that the Home Office was failing to listen.

There is an ongoing legal action due to an alleged breach of asylum seekers’ human rights and deprivation of liberty with the facilities.

Two relate to Penally barracks in Wales, two relate to Napier barracks in Folkestone, and one related to Yarl’s Wood.

Sue Willman, of Deighton Pierce Glynn, who is representing several asylum seekers at Napier barracks, said: “We have issued a judicial review against the home secretary challenging her decision to detain three asylum-seeker clients, each of whom is either a victim of torture or trafficking or both.”

The Voice contacted the Home Office for further comment on the matter.

Immigration Compliance Minister, Chris Philp said: “We are fixing the broken asylum system to make it fairer on those in genuine need of protection, and firmer on those who seek to abuse the system. Until then we are managing the increased demand on the asylum system by using temporary accommodation – which is safe, secure, and funded by the taxpayer.”

The Government, he stressed, aim to keep contingency asylum accommodation under review and in accordance with the availability of more long-term asylum accommodation.

He added: “These sites were previously used to house military personnel – to suggest they are not good enough for asylum seekers is an insult. They are provided with three meals a day, and have their basic needs catered for.