Stafford MP Theo Clarke will meet with the Home Secretary to discuss plans to house asylum seekers at Beaconside after raising the issue in Prime Minister’s Questions on her first week back from maternity leave.
Serco has appealed against a decision by the council refusing permission to house people at the site.
Mrs Clarke has previously successfully objected to the original proposal and met with the immigration minister at time to state the case why it should not happen.
In the House of Commons today Mrs Clarke asked Rishi Sunak: “I welcome the Government’s commitment to tackling illegal migration, particularly the issue of small boats. Will my right honourable friend reconsider the Government’s proposal to relocate approximately 500 single male asylum seekers to Beaconside in Stafford?
“Will he meet me urgently to discuss it, given the huge number of objections that I have received from constituents on the issue?
In reply the Prime Minister said: “First, I welcome my honourable friend back to her place. I know that this issue concerns her and her constituents, which is why we must absolutely stop the boats and stem the tide of illegal migrants to relieve this pressure on our local communities.
“I will ensure that she meets the Home Secretary as soon as possible to discuss her concerns—hopefully we can arrange that meeting in the coming days.”
Speaking afterwards Mrs Clarke added: “This is a major concern in Stafford and people are incredibly concerned about the number of asylum seekers that could be housed just outside the town with few services to assist them.
“I will do all I can to make it clear to the Home Secretary when we meet that this should not happen.
“I have also met with the council who agree with me that having this number would put local services under pressure.
“Stafford is welcoming to those who are seeking asylum and we have taken many but this huge extra number for a small market town is going to be detrimental to our community and detrimental to those potentially housed there as Stafford simply does not have the infrastructure to cope.”
To View Theo Clarke MP for Stafford's Question and the Prime Minister's response please click here.
