COUNCIL TAX INCREASES FOR ASYLUM ACCOMMODATION CENTRE

Early day motion 1293, tabled 26 May 2004 by Tony Baldry (Conservative). Signed by 5 members.

That this House notes the criticism at the High Court by Mr Justice Collins of ministers being not entirely accurate about the impact on local services of the proposed Bicester Asylum Accommodation Centre despite the Government telling the House that asylum seekers would not be dependent on mainstream services; further observes that Oxfordshire County Council, Thames Valley Police and the North East Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust have been given no indication of what burden will fall on their budgets if any accommodation centre is built and that Oxfordshire County Council estimates at the very least the accommodation centres will cost an unbudgeted ú0.5 million; and calls on the Government to make clear before any contractor is appointed what costs ministers expect Oxfordshire Council tax payers to meet rather than the Government or the contractor.

Signatures by party: Conservative 5.