Fury as migrants could get their clothes picked up, washed and dropped off for free | UK | News
“Soft-touch Britain” may be paying for expats living in hotels to have their laundry collected, laundered and returned free of charge. Home Office contractor Clearsprings is advertising a subcontractor to run a laundry service for clothes and linens. They are understood to be in talks with French laundry company Elis, which already has a contract with the NHS.
If a deal is reached, the plan will be trialled in taxpayer-funded immigration hotels in Bristol. Sun reports. The asylum seekers’ dirty laundry would then be done at Elis’ commercial facility in Bridgewater, Somerset. While no figures for the potential deal have been released, it has been criticized by those in the industry who claim it is a “cheaper” way to do laundry.
“Most immigrant hotels have washing machines, why can’t immigrants use them?” an insider smoked
“The government needs to provide these things, but every cog in the system knows it can be done cheaper.”
Speaking to the newspaper, former Conservative minister Sir Alec Shelbrooke said: “It’s one thing to provide a basic standard of hygiene, such as using existing facilities, but it’s another to provide silverware to immigration hotels.
“This is once again a soft-touch example of the UK burning taxpayers’ money.”
In response, the Home Office defended the contract and explained that it was required by law to provide laundry services “within the scope of supported accommodation”. It added that the agreements were being reviewed in order to save taxpayers’ money and no contract had been officially signed.
It follows the announcement of a £260 million contract for repatriation centers at Gatwick Airport to offer free English lessons, arts and crafts lessons and IT training.
The eight-year contract, provided by Serco, will deliver IT and English lessons by qualified instructors and also stipulates that the ability to make hot drinks must be available at all times.
A Serco spokesman said: “We offer options such as art lessons and IT provision as set out in our contract with the Home Office.”
The Home Office told The Sun: “This contract was purchased and awarded under a previous Government.
“We are reviewing contracts for the provision of activities based in immigration removal centers to ensure they add value to taxpayers.”
