MINISTERS have been warned against expanding the use of army barracks to accommodate asylum-seekers following reports that a government task force is considering the measure. 

PM Boris Johnson last week ordered a review to look at ways of preventing refugees from crossing the Channel, appointing Cabinet minister Stephen Barclay to lead the task force with talks due to be held early this week. 

Among the proposals expected to be discussed are plans to significantly reduce the number of asylum-seekers in hotels and expand the use of army barracks, according to the Telegraph.

The government claims that hotels are a “pull factor” for asylum-seekers to come to Britain. 

Internal Home Office documents have previously shown this belief was a factor driving the decision to put asylum-seekers into disused army barracks in Folkestone and Pembrokeshire last September. 

Since then, the policy has been widely condemned, with the High Court finding earlier this year that the decision to house asylum-seekers at Napier Barracks was unlawful. 

Responding to reports that the use of such sites could be expanded, Refugee Action chief executive Tim Naor Hilton said today that “putting traumatised refugees in any warehouse-style accommodation such as hotels or barracks has a disastrous effect on their physical and mental health, and ability to integrate. 

“As unacceptable delays in asylum processing force many refugees to wait years for a decision on their claim, people must be housed in decent homes in our communities.” 

Despite the High Court ruling in June the Home Office has continued to use Napier Barracks, where around 270 asylum-seekers are currently being held. 

The task force is also expected to revisit the idea of “offshoring” asylum-seekers to third countries while their claims are processed.

It comes as several Tory MPs told the Guardian that asylum-seekers should be sent to the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands while their claims are processed. 

Saying he was in favour of the idea, Ashfield MP Lee Anderson said: “The only way we will put these people off is by giving them the message that if you come here you are going to be sent 8,000 miles away.” 

Refugee rights groups have opposed such plans, stressing that the creation of safe routes is the only way to stop dangerous crossings.