MP criticises city asylum seeker accommodation plans

An MP has criticised plans which could see up to 149 more asylum seekers housed in Aberdeen.

The Home Office has told Aberdeen City Council it intends to put them in accommodation on St Peter Street.

Aberdeen South Conservative MP Douglas Lumsden said the move would take the city - which currently houses 707 people - above its agreed allocation limit and has called for an urgent review.

The Home Office said it was working to "fairly house asylum seekers across the country" and engaging with councils to "reduce the impact on authorities".

Last year, Aberdeen City Council (ACC) called for a meeting with the Home Secretary over the housing of asylum seekers.

It followed a number of protests outside hotels in the city.

Mr Lumsden said the latest plans would put "more strain on our public services".

"I talk to many constituents who already feel it's difficult to get things like a GP appointment and having an extra 150 asylum seekers in the system is just going to make that harder," he said.

"Obviously these asylum seekers need to be housed somewhere, but it looks like Aberdeen is going above its share of that.

"The Home Office should be looking at trying to do it more fairly and looking at trying to disperse people in other areas right across the United Kingdom."

The Home Office reiterated the government's commitment to shut asylum hotels across the UK and work with councils.

"The government is closing every asylum hotel, saving taxpayers over £1bn on asylum support since the election," said a spokesperson.

"We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, engaging with local authorities to reduce the impact on communities."

Aberdeen City Council said the issue was a matter for the Home Office.