Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2026
Letter from the Highland Council relating to the use of Cameron Barracks for Asylum Accommodation 07.04.2026
From: Home Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Asylum Accommodation: Follow Up
Summary
Highland Council's correspondence with the Home Affairs Committee and Home Office regarding the planned use of Cameron Barracks in Inverness to house 300 unaccompanied male asylum seekers. The Council objects to minimal consultation, lack of impact assessments, licensing disputes over HMO requirements, inadequate safeguarding plans, and absence of funding commitments. The Home Office disputes the HMO licensing requirement but provides no implementation plan or substantive responses to Council concerns.
Key findings
- Highland Council received minimal notice—invitation to meeting on 9 October 2025 sent to generic mailbox, with formal notification only on 27 October, same day as Home Office press release, demonstrating lack of advance consultation.
- Council contends Cameron Barracks requires HMO licensing under Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (section 125); Home Office disputes this, citing previous Afghan resettlement use, but Council maintains each case must be assessed on merits and notes different demographics (single unrelated males vs. family units).
- Home Office has provided no impact assessments, risk assessments, welfare or safeguarding arrangements, detailed implementation plan, funding commitment, or contracts despite Council repeated written requests since October 2025.
- Council raises serious concerns: site location within 15-minute walk of residential areas and schools; scale of 300 single males; pressure on stretched health and social care services; child age-assessment assurance gaps; and potential safety risks to Afghan families already resettled locally.
- Home Office fortnightly meetings with local partners are described as information-sharing only, lasting under 30 minutes with no substantive engagement on Council's 13 November letter, which received no formal response by 7 April 2026.
Tone
CriticalTopics
Key actors
Councillor Raymond Bremner, Leader of Highland Council, Dame Karen Bradley MP, Chair of Home Affairs Committee, Alex Norris MP, Minister for Border Security & Asylum, Shabana Mahmood MP, Secretary of State for Home Department, Highland Council, Home Office, NHS Highland, Councillor Bill Lobban, Convener of Highland Council
Notable line
“We are deeply disappointed that there has been no consultation with the Council, instead we have merely been informed of this decision by the Home Office.”
Key Quotes
“We are deeply disappointed that there has been no consultation with the Council, instead we have merely been informed of this decision by the Home Office.”
“On behalf of the Council, I must also express our disappointment at the lack of communication and engagement regarding the proposals, particularly any attempt to address the genuine concerns that have been raised. The lack of response to our correspondence, illustrates the lack of courtesy being afforded to this Council.”
“It is difficult not to conclude that either the Home Office intend to proceed without sharing the implementation plan, which will cause considerable difficulties for the Council and other key public sector partners, or there is no implementation plan which demonstrates utterly inadequate preparation and a total disregard for the communities in Highland.”
“… it is our strong contention that the use of Cameron Barracks does not require a HMO licence.”
“The Council's position has not changed. It is noted that, at the time of writing, there has been no attempt by the Home Office to re-engage with Council officers following the Home Office's cancellation of a joint site inspection.”
“In the absence of information being readily provided, there is a real danger that this void is filled with misinformation and disinformation which could seriously impact community cohesion.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗