A series of Parliamentary Questions has begun to reveal more about the Government’s plans for MOD Bicester – but many important questions remain unanswered.
Calum Miller MP has submitted questions covering planning, security, healthcare, policing, transport, infrastructure, environmental effects and the process through which the site was selected.
In its responses, the Home Office has repeatedly stated that no final decision has been made and that feasibility, due-diligence and assurance work is continuing.
When asked whether local healthcare, dental and other essential services had sufficient capacity, the Home Office said provision would be determined through discussions with health partners and that efforts would be made to minimise local impact. It did not publish a health-impact assessment or confirm what services would be provided on site.
Questions about transport received a similar response. The Government said arrangements would be considered through future operational planning and discussions with local partners, but no detailed transport plan was provided.
The Home Office also confirmed that assessments of utilities, infrastructure, security and the impact on local communities remain ongoing.
On screening, the Government stated that people claiming asylum undergo mandatory identity and security checks using biographic and biometric information, including checks against police criminality databases. However, detailed site-specific risk, safeguarding and public-protection arrangements have not yet been published.
The answers demonstrate that significant aspects of the proposal are still being developed.
Wrong Plan. Wrong Site. believes the public must be given access to the completed assessments – and enough time to scrutinise them – before any final decision is taken.
