The Welsh Government has once again called for the Home Office to close the asylum seekers site at Penally.

Echoing Deputy Minister Jane Hutt’s recent comments calling for the use of the camp at Penally as an ‘Asylum Accommodation Centre’ to end as ‘quickly as possible’ - Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford has spoken of his ‘grave concerns’ relating to the suitability of the use of Penally military base to house asylum seekers.

The Military of Defence camp at Penally was repurposed by the Home Office last month, to accommodate up to 250 male asylum seekers, and carried out without any consultation with the Welsh Government, Pembrokeshire County Council, and other local stakeholders such as Hywel Dda Health Board and Dyfed-Powys Police.

First Minister, Mark Drakeford said: “I will be clear - it is unacceptable that the Home Office has repeatedly failed to address serious issues regarding living conditions at Penally military camp.

“The Welsh Government and local service providers have continually informed the Home Office of grave deficiencies in the standard of accommodation for asylum seekers.

“The Home Office has so far failed to act in any meaningful way.

“The welfare and safety of asylum seekers on site must not be compromised, and the wellbeing of the local community must be treated as priority by the Home Office.

“I have explained our concerns on multiple occasions, and called on the Home Office to close the site. Their failure to act is not acceptable.

“The use of the camp must end as quickly as possible.

“Home Office has a duty to intervene, and must not ignore the legitimate concerns which are being raised by every party involved.

“Until Home Office takes action, we will continue to work closely with local partners to minimise risks and maximise the welfare of all affected.

“Wales is a Nation of Sanctuary. We take that seriously, and so should the Home Office,” he added.

Wales’ deputy minister Jane Hutt MS who is also the Chief Whip, said last weekend: “We have yet to receive a clear rationale for the reason why the Home Office chose this site to relocate asylum seekers, nor have we been provided with a clear strategy about how the Home Office will address the lack of dispersal accommodation throughout Wales and the United Kingdom.

“To date, there has been no financial help from the Home Office for these public bodies to deliver services in these exceptional circumstances during a period in which they have been under unprecedented pressure.

“Public bodies in the area are understandably concerned by the potential impacts of this development on a small rural community,” she stated.