To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2023 to Question 192849 on Asylum: Portland Port, on what date her Department's (a) contractors, (b) officials and (c) Ministers were made aware that there was legionella on the Bibby Stockholm barge; when the legionella finding was reported to the UK Health Security Agency; what steps she is taking to improve her Department's processes to ensure that accommodation for refugees is (i) adequate and (ii) meets the required regulatory standards; and if she will make a statement.
Answered on
26 October 2023
As a precautionary measure, and going above and beyond UK Health Security Agency advice, the Home Office disembarked all asylum seekers on 11 August 2023.
We take the welfare of individuals on the vessel seriously. The asylum seekers had health assessments, and nobody has presented with symptoms.
We are beginning to move people back on the Bibby Stockholm in Portland. All necessary tests including all health, fire and water checks have been completed, and are all satisfactory.
The number of people on board will increase gradually with more arrivals in the coming days and months, as part of a carefully structured phased approach.