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A watchdog has ruled the cost of furnishing flats for asylum seekers cannot be released because the issue is too "sensitive."
The Home Office had refused to reveal the cost of furnishing a block of flats to be used by 346 asylum seekers in Farnborough, Hampshire.
John Edwards, the Information Commissioner has rejected an appeal to release the information under Freedom of Information (FOI) laws.
Ruling in favour of the Home Office, Edwards said the public interest in revealing the cost to the taxpayer of the furnishing was outweighed by the need to protect the asylum seekers from protests and risks to their “health and safety”.
The Home Office is spending billions of taxpayers' money housing asylum seekersGetty
The brand new apartment complex in Farnborough will house up to 300 asylum seekersGB News
Protesters outside RAF Scampton had made their views known about the Home Office plans
GB NEWS
Reform UK MP for Ashfield Lee Anderson criticised the decision and said he planned to raise it in a parliamentary debate on immigration next week.
He told The Telegraph: "The real risk is to the taxpayer, who is spending millions of pounds per day on people that should not be in the country.
"The fact that the Home Office and Information Commissioner are hiding or suppressing this information is a kick in the teeth for every single hard-working taxpayer in this country. They should have this information. I think they are probably embarrassed about the cost of it."
It was reported the apartments were finished with satellite television.
The Home Office had refused to reveal the cost of furnishing a block of flats to be used by 346 asylum seekers in Farnborough, Hampshire.
John Edwards, the Information Commissioner has rejected an appeal to release the information under Freedom of Information (FOI) laws.
Ruling in favour of the Home Office, Edwards said the public interest in revealing the cost to the taxpayer of the furnishing was outweighed by the need to protect the asylum seekers from protests and risks to their “health and safety”.
The Home Office is spending billions of taxpayers' money housing asylum seekersGetty
The brand new apartment complex in Farnborough will house up to 300 asylum seekersGB News
Protesters outside RAF Scampton had made their views known about the Home Office plans
GB NEWS
Reform UK MP for Ashfield Lee Anderson criticised the decision and said he planned to raise it in a parliamentary debate on immigration next week.
He told The Telegraph: "The real risk is to the taxpayer, who is spending millions of pounds per day on people that should not be in the country.
"The fact that the Home Office and Information Commissioner are hiding or suppressing this information is a kick in the teeth for every single hard-working taxpayer in this country. They should have this information. I think they are probably embarrassed about the cost of it."
It was reported the apartments were finished with satellite television.
