CONISTON HOTEL, SITTINGBOURNE AND KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

Early day motion 506, tabled 14 January 2003 by Derek Wyatt (Labour). Signed by 1 member.

That this House recalls that the Government gave an undertaking to Kent County Council, in the light of its historic commitment in caring for the many refugee and asylum seekers which enter the county through its ports, notably Dover, and its train service, especially at Ashford International, that it would not foist another reception centre on it; notes nonetheless that another one is to be opened at the Coniston Hotel, Sittingbourne on 29 January for refugee and asylum seekers not from the county itself but from Gatwick and Heathrow; ponders why there was no public consultation in the decision-making process, and asks how the Sittingbourne community can best prepare itself for 111 refugees and asylum seekers when the go-ahead for the said centre was only made public on 8th January; and calls for the resignation of the chief executive of National Asylum Seekers Support Service.

Signatures by party: Labour 1.