Wales’ Deputy Minister has hit back at Welsh Secretary of State and South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart over matters at the Penally asylum seekers camp, after he called on the Welsh Government to assist in finding sufficient dispersal accommodation to hasten the closure of the facility.

Mr. Hart has told his constituents that he had made repeated requests to the Welsh Government in finding alternative accommodation for asylum seekers currently residing at Penally camp, and in joint letter from the MP and minister for immigration Chris Philp to Wales’ Deputy Minister Jane Hutt earlier this month, it was suggested that if the Welsh Government were able to assist with a process of finding sufficient dispersal accommodation places, then this may enable earlier closure of the camp, which was repurposed back in September of last year by the Home Office.

The letter to Wales’ Deputy Minister stated: “Whilst recognising your strong desire to see the use of Penally discontinued, balanced with our need to ensure there is always sufficient capacity in the system; this could only happen if there were clear alternatives in place.

“Objecting to the use of Penally, whilst failing to help us identify suitable alternative provision, would signal an unwillingness on the part of the Welsh Government to accommodate asylum seekers which would be at variance with your stated position of Wales as a place of sanctuary.

“My officials will continue to work with your officials on this matter and I hope that we can find a mutually agreeable solution in respect of the provision of initial and dispersal asylum accommodation in Wales.”

In a response issued today (February 12), Wales’ Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt stated: “It’s time for the Secretary of State for Wales to read the devolution settlement as the powers he is asking us to use are simply not devolved. Asylum Seeker accommodation is squarely the responsibility and function of the UK Government which Simon Hart MP himself has acknowledged.

“He has also acknowledged that it was the Home Office, his UK Government, that took the decision to use this camp for asylum accommodation. This was done without consultation with the Welsh Government, the local community or local services and from the beginning we have made it clear that the use of Penally Military Camp was entirely unacceptable and inhumane.

“Wales is a Nation of Sanctuary and we are working to support asylum seekers and ensure their safety and wellbeing in our dispersal areas across Wales. Only the UK Government has the legal power to provide accommodation for asylum seekers,” she continued.

“Nevertheless, we are working closely with Welsh local authorities to try to find appropriate solutions. The Penally camp is unsuitable and unsafe and must close urgently.

“The priority of the Welsh Government is clear. We must ensure those in the camp and the surrounding community are kept safe, that they are treated with dignity and that community cohesion can be repaired following this disruptive decision.

“We would urge the Secretary of State to focus his efforts on getting his own Home Office in order.”

The Home Office made their intentions clear to Pembrokeshire County Council this week that a planning application is being prepared to allow the temporary use of Penally Camp as an asylum seekers accommodation centre to continue for a further six months (beyond March 21 2021).