BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty was forced to interrupt defence minister Luke Pollard after he failed to provide a straightforward answer on the cost of housing asylum seekers. The exchange took place on Friday's edition of the show, where Pollard appeared alongside hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt.
The discussion came after the government approved planning permission to house asylum seekers at a former military site near the Oxfordshire village of Piddington. The Housing Secretary Angela Rayner approved plans for housing up to 1,256 men at the MoD Bicester site. The Home Office said this would allow it to continue developing the plan but that no final decision on the site had been taken.
Minister questioned on costs
Host Charlie Stayt opened the segment, saying: "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 to close asylum hotels, but it has since been suggested that hotels are a cheaper option compared to housing asylum seekers 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".
Host presses for a clear answer
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." He added there was no cheap option.
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".
Interruption and call for figures
Naga was again forced to interject after Pollard was unable to provide a straightforward response. "I do understand that," the broadcaster replied. "I do understand those arguments. I do hope in the very near future you would have those figures because it's quite an obvious question to ask I think when it comes to costs and you're telling the public that you're trying to bring down costs in order to have money to spend."
