Migrants are complaining there are no cigarettes and that they can’t use the swimming pools in their taxpayer-funded hotels.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage slammed a survey by Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership asking asylum seekers about their experiences in their accommodation and what could be done to improve it for them.
Responses included demands for more clothing because “all my clothes were damaged from the sea” after crossing the Channel on a dinghy, regular access to gyms and complaints they were not being given classes to learn English.
Others declared they wanted doctors and dentists to visit them in their hotel rooms.
Another, who was asked what health services they had accessed and what they wanted, said: “Have seen a doctor for my back. Had surgery on back in my country. Now have back problems and go to Trinity.
“Have had physio but not good as only get told what to do at the hotel but don’t give medication.
“I told them I need swimming which helps for back and I have had this in Iran and Germany along with hydrotherapy which was good and better than medication. There is a good pool in here but I can’t use it.”
Mr Farage raged on GB News: “One migrant complained there were no cigarettes in the room, poor baby.
“Another said they want to be close to their cousin in Halifax. Another said they have a problem with the food.”
A summary of one response, to a question of “what makes you happy”, a migrant said: “Ping pong in hotel with peers. Walking. So far away from city so can’t access much, 1 bus every hour. Family is important – family in Iran (Mum/Sister). Has moved because of dictatorship. Food – chips/oily food, would like healthier for example omelettes.”
The Reform UK leader questioned the priorities, asking: “Are we offering these surveys to homeless people who served in the Armed Forces? To hell we are.”
He concluded his criticism with exasperation: “God help us, what are we doing?”
“The Government took out a lease and paid £7million,” he told GB News viewers. “They hoped it could take 700 asylum seekers but it has remained empty for over a year, which I find astonishing.”
William Yarwood from the TaxPayers’ Alliance condemned the situation: “It’s outrageous that illegal migrants in hotels are treated like VIP ‘customers’ while taxpayers struggle daily.”
Ministers have been accused of taking taxpayers “for a ride” as they splurge billions on asylum accommodation whilst young families struggle to get on the housing ladder.
Some 32,345 asylum seekers are living in hotels, while 66,683 are living in “dispersal accommodation” across the country.
But the Home Office has told an inquiry this could rise to 100,000, under the terms of the asylum accommodation contracts with Serco, Mears and Clearspring Ready Homes.
Officials also admitted it has paid the providers more amid “challenging market conditions” to help move migrants out of hotels.
In an alarming sign of the migrant hotel bill has spiralled, the Home Office revealed: “Contingency accommodation hotels were only meant to be a temporary measure for a short period when they were first utilised.
“However, we have relied on the CA hotels for several years, which reduces the incentive for AASC providers to expand their estate.”
The migrant crisis is costing taxpayers £4.7 billion a year.
The Home Office and asylum accommodation providers meet with council chiefs every month to discuss the “procurement” of properties “in line” with plans to house migrants in different communities.
The Home Office submission to the Home Affairs Select Committee added: “The volume and location of DA is based on an evidence driven indexing tool which considers market availability, current population and social pressures in each local authority area”.
Serco, Clearspring Ready Homes and Mears are not paid for empty “dispersal accommodation” beds.
Treasury documents show that taxpayers will still be shelling out £2.5 billion in 2028/2029 on asylum.
Spending plans also show the Home Office will spend 3.6 billion on asylum in 2025/2026, £3.6bn in 26/27 and £2.9bn in 27/28.
Border Security and Asylum Minister Dame Angela Eagle said on Tuesday revealed ministers want to use more abandoned tower blocks, “old teacher training colleges”, or former student accommodation as a substitute for hotels and renting properties.
Asylum seekers have been given houses in more than 80 per cent of council areas, a Home Office official admitted.
More migrants are being moved across the country to ease the burden on local authorities crippled by a lack of housing, overwhelmed health services and growing community frustrations.
Joanna Rowland, Director General of Customer Services at the Home Office, told a group of MPs the number of council areas with asylum accommodation has increased over the past year from around 70% to 81%.