One source told the paper of fears that the vessel could become a "floating Grenfell" - a reference to the fire that broke out at the west London tower block in 2017, killing 72 people.įollowing reports of a delay, a Home Office spokesperson said the vessel was "undergoing final preparations to ensure it complies with all appropriate regulations before the arrival of the first asylum seekers".īy Lisa Holland, communities correspondent The Times reported that serious safety concerns were raised about the facility and that approval from the fire service was outstanding. The first asylum seekers were originally due to move on to the barge last week, but Sky News reported that their arrival had been pushed back until Tuesday this week. However, there is still a possibility that they could be moved on to the barge - which is currently docked in Portland on the coast of Dorset - later this week. He said it is a "significant change" that will address a "major issue".Ĭhallenged on the fact that we don't actually know how big of an issue it is because there is no public data, Mr Holden said we can actually track it because the number of people now trying to bring family with them has increased compared to previous years.Īsylum seekers will not be moved on to the controversial Bibby Stockholm barge on Tuesday as planned after last minute meetings responding to fire safety concerns, Sky News understands. Mr Holden said we need to ensure people aren't using student visas as a "backdoor way to get around the immigration system".Īsked about testimonies that people know the Home Office won't try to track them down if they come on the student visa route, Mr Holden said: "I think there has been a big change on this in literally the last few months in which students will no longer be able to bring family with them in the way they could before, which was basically a backdoor route to entry." Mr Holden said: "We have to tighten up these routes because you're absolutely right - people should only be coming on student visas to study here in the UK."Įarlier this year, the government banned international students from bringing dependents with them unless they are on postgraduate research courses. Mr Holden told Sky News that this exact issue is "one of the reasons" ministers introduced reforms to the student visa program. We've just been speaking with the roads and local transport minister, Richard Holden, and we asked him about Sky's revelation today that the Home Office has no public data on the number of people who overstay their student visa and do not return to their country of origin. Mr Holden also said that the message from government is that it wants to "tackle these issues around illegal migration", and he blamed the opposition and lawyers from "trying to frustrate our efforts". He added those checks will take "as long as they're going to take". He could not put a timeframe on when people would be housed on board, however.Īsked if safety concerns are the reason for the delay, Mr Holden said: "It's going through final checks at the moment." It's right that whatever accommodation we provide is safe and secure as well." Mr Holden said: "It's going through its final checks at the moment. It comes as the Home Office missed its deadline of moving the first 50 asylum seekers on board last week, and they are also set to miss their deadline of moving people on board today due to fire safety concerns. Minister for roads and local transport Richard Holden was asked by Sky News a short while ago when the first people will be moved on board the controversial Bibby Stockholm barge. The aim of the changes, he said, is to ensure pubs are "not just surviving, but thriving". He said pre-mixed drinks in cans, as well as prosecco, will be cheaper, and pubs will see duty on draught pints drop slightly. He said the government has got rid of the "byzantine" system of 16 different alcohol taxes, and now it is clear that "the more alcohol, the more you pay". Minister for roads and local transport, Richard Holden, defended the changes to Sky News this morning, saying certain types of alcoholic drinks under 10% alcohol content "will actually be cheaper". However, the cost of bottles and cans is set to rise by over 10%. The shake-up of the alcohol duty system aims to encourage drinkers to cut back by taxing all alcohol based on its strength, rather than the previous categories of wine, beer, spirits and ciders.įor beer drinkers, duty is being cut on draught pints across the UK by 11p, which is seen as a measure designed to boost pubs, many of which have been closing. Tax on wines and spirits is going up today, with wine in particular seeing the biggest price in 50 years, according to the Wine and Spirits Trade Association.
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