Britain’s oldest sea fort could be turned into accommodation for asylum seekers, with Labour refusing to rule it out.
Ministers have been urging the Home Office to clarify if Fort Blockhouse, a sea fort in Gosport, Hampshire would be used to house migrants.
The Home Office is currently reviewing plans to use military sites and warehouses to process and hold asylum seekers.
Speaking in the Commons yesterday, Defence Minister Luke Pollard refused to rule out the use of the Hampshire fort, which dates back to the 15th century.
Responding to a question from the Conservative MP for Gosport, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Mr Pollard said: "As every Government department can contribute something to this effort [to tackle the small boats crisis], it’s right that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) does so."
The fort, which dates back to 1431, was targeted and partially destroyed by the French forces during the Hundred Years War.
In 1905, it became the home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service until 1995. It remained active until December 2021 where it was closed.
Dame Dinenage said it would be a "terrible outcome" if asylum seekers were housed in the Fort in her constituency, calling it a "unique and special asset with such large potential."
Fort Blockhouse in Gosport could be converted
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Mr Pollard said the department are reviewing all sites for potential use, adding: "We’re looking at all the military sites that the MoD has.
"Some of those have been visited by the Home Office in the past, both under this Government and especially under the previous administration.
"The priority now is not only to process the asylum applicants that weren’t being done under the last Government, that we’re speeding up, but to close the asylum hotels.
"So to do that, we’ve got to provide temporary and adequate accommodation."
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Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard said his department are reviewing all options
| GB NewsThe number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel has topped 30,000 for the year so far.
It is the earliest point in a calendar year at which the 30,000 mark has been passed since data on the crossings was first reported in 2018.
Downing Street remains under pressure as the fist flight containing a migrant to be deported under Sir Keir Starmer's 'one-in, one-out' deal was cancelled at the last minute.
Deportations under the "one in, one out" deal with France will go ahead, Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones insisted.
Speaking on Times Radio this morning, she said she would not give a "running commentary" on when deportations would occur, claiming this would give people smugglers "exactly what they want."
Labour is facing growing pressure to tackle the small boats crisis, having to turn to using military sites
| GETTYWhen pressed on a timescale of when migrants would be returned to France, the MP for Pontypridd said: "These deportations will be happening as soon as possible."
Asked why she would not comment, she said: "If I was to break down with you exactly a time-by-time, day-by-day movement on our returns policy, then that would be giving these abhorrent people smugglers exactly what they want.
"This would be allowing them to know what the Government is doing when, and they would be able to respond to that.
"We are not going to be doing them any favours."