Ex-minister: Home Office 'fiddled' figures in plans to house migrants at RAF Scampton site
A Conservative former minister has threatened to call for an official review into the Home Office for "misapplying public money", as it plans to house migrants at RAF Scampton.
Sir Edward Leigh gave notice to Home Secretary Suella Braverman that he would report her department to the comptroller and auditor general, the head of the National Audit Office.
The Gainsborough MP is unhappy with the Government’s plans to house migrants at RAF Scampton in his Lincolnshire constituency - previously home to 617 Squadron, known for the Dambusters raid during the Second World War, and the Red Arrows.
Now, he claims the Home Office has “fiddled” with figures in order to demonstrate the scheme provides value for money.
Sir Edward told the Commons: "One of the justifications for using service accommodation like RAF Scampton was it was supposed to be cheaper.
"We now know the figures: it was more expensive over two years, and over three years the savings are absolutely derisory.
"That is on figures frankly being fiddled by over-capitalising the value of the base and not basing the figures on surveys."
Referring to Ms Braverman, he said: "Her officials are now ripping out services. The council has issued a stop order on it.
"I give notice that I am going to report the Home Office to the comptroller and auditor general of misapplying public money and wasting public money because using this base will cost more than hotels.
"I want to ask a direct question of the Home Secretary – because this is crown land, the authority can't enter the land. Does she accept she would be acting illegally and she is liable to be sued if her officials disobey the stop order?"
Ms Braverman said Sir Edward had led an "energetic" campaign against using the base to house migrants, adding: "I very much appreciate the challenges that this nationwide mission poses for all of us."
She went on: "I don't agree with his assessment in his question. We have assessed the proposal at Scampton to be value for money, but ultimately it is not right that we continue to house tens of thousands of migrants in hotels across the country in towns and cities, costing the taxpayer £6 million a day."
West Lindsey District Council ordered the Home Office to stop work on the former RAF base two weeks ago, after it deemed there had been a breach of planning controls relating to listed buildings and archaeology on the site of the base.
It said breaches include installing perimeter fencing and undertaking intrusive groundworks which could "cause irreversible damage to important heritage assets".
The Home Office announced in March that migrants would be housed on the site, as well as at RAF Wethersfield in Braintree, Essex.
The notice means the Government department and its contractors must immediately stop any work related to listed buildings, and "all intrusive surveying works, groundworks and the installation of the fencing on the site".
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