PRESS RELEASE : Contract for Bibby Stockholm not renewed past January 2025 [July 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 23 July 2024.

The Minister for Border Security and Asylum has made the decision not to renew the contract for use of the Bibby Stockholm barge.

As part of the government’s commitment to clear the backlog and fix the asylum system, the Minister for Border Security and Asylum has made the decision not to renew the contract for use of the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Ending the use of the Bibby Stockholm forms part of the expected £7.7 billion of savings in asylum costs over the next ten years, as the Home Secretary takes action to restart asylum caseworking, clear the backlog and remove those with no right to be here.

Extending the use of the Bibby Stockholm would have cost over £20 million next year. The barge will continue to be used until January 2025, but there will be no continuation of the contract beyond that.

Yesterday, the Home Secretary set out more detail on the government’s plans to save billions of pounds by clearing the asylum backlog – where thousands remained permanently in taxpayer funded accommodation.

By doing so, the government will reduce demand for accommodation, like the Bibby Stockholm.

The news comes mere weeks since the newly elected government began delivering on its mission to create a faster, fairer asylum system. It builds on action to fix the asylum system and protect our border. The government has already begun rapid recruitment of a new border security commander and committed a 50% uplift in UK officers at Europol – to boost intelligence sharing, disrupt criminal people smugglers and bring them to justice.

The Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle MP said:

We are determined to restore order to the asylum system, so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly; and ensures the rules are properly enforced.

The Home Secretary has set out plans to start clearing the asylum backlog and making savings on accommodation which is running up vast bills for the taxpayer.

The Bibby Stockholm will continue to be in use until the contract expires in January 2025.