BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty interrupts after minister can't answer migrant question

Résumé détaillé

BBC Breakfast presenters Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt were joined on Friday's edition of the show by Labour's defence minister Luke Pollard. It comes amid the government's…

BBC Breakfast presenters Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt were joined on Friday's edition of the show by Labour's defence minister Luke Pollard. It comes amid the government's plans to house asylum seekers at a former military site near the Oxfordshire village of Piddington have been approved by the government. Planning permission for housing up to 1,256 men at the MoD Bicester site was approved by the Housing Secretary Angela Rayner. The Home Office said this would allow it to continue developing the plan but that no final decision on the site had been taken.

Host Charlie began: "The government is facing opposition after they granted planning permission to house asylum seekers at a former military base in Oxfordshire." Naga continued: "It comes after residents in the nearby village of Piddington symbolically voted to leave the UK in response to the proposals."

Pollard explained the decision was made in order to close asylum hotels but it has since been suggested hotels are a cheaper option compared to housing them in military bases.

The defence minister claimed the government had saved £1bn in closing hotels but admitted he "didn't have the figures at hand".

Naga asked: "Let me make it simpler then. Is it cheaper to house an asylum seeker in a hotel or in one of these facilities today?"

"Again, forgive me Naga," he replied. "It depends how long you are using the facility for. What's the return on the initial investment on the use of that facility."

The Breakfast host was forced to interject as she continued: "I suppose the question is it more expensive in a hotel or less expensive?"

The Breakfast host was forced to interject as she continued: "I suppose the question is it more expensive in a hotel or less expensive?"

The minister was unable to provide a definitive answer as he explained various factors can impact costs, before adding, "forgive me Naga, I don't have the figures in front of me here".

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