After postponement, Douglas Alexander avoided giving a timeline for housing the 300 asylum seekers and emphasized proceeding in a reasonable and proper way.

Shirley-Anne Somerville criticizes the Home Office’s handling as chaotic and reiterates the need for satisfactory information and urgent, constructive collaboration to ensure safety, sanctuary, and integration with adequate funding.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney was accused of not being fully candid about engagement with the UK Government on the Cameron Barracks plan, with the Scottish Secretary disputing the claim and saying ministers were informed.

The Home Office has delayed plans to house about 300 male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks in Inverness, citing the need for safety and full operation before proceeding.

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.

The Scottish Government has been contacted for further comment.

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment on the matter.

The dispute centers on whether there was early engagement versus mere notification, with both sides offering differing accounts of who was informed and when.

Highland Council said it was told the day before the announcement; Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville says she was notified as the plans were announced.

The First Minister differentiated the issue as a lack of detailed engagement rather than notification, and Highland Council said it was told the day before the announcement.

Swinney contrasted the issue as a lack of detailed engagement rather than notification, while Highland Council says it was told the day before the announcement and Somerville says she was notified as the plans were announced.

The Scottish Government and several councils have declared a housing emergency, amid protests outside hotels and broader concerns about asylum hotel usage.

Protests outside hotels have highlighted local tensions, contributing to a broader push by the Scottish Government and several councils declaring housing emergencies.

Protests outside hotels have highlighted local tensions and added pressure to reform asylum accommodation arrangements.

Swinney criticized the Home Office for lacking detailed engagement and urged more thorough planning before moving forward, noting limited responses from the Home Office on Cameron Barracks.

Swinney called for more detailed engagement and “homework” from the Home Office prior to advancing the plan.

Reaction from political figures included criticism from Scottish Conservative MSP Edward Mountain and Liberal Democrat MP Angus MacDonald, who argued Cameron Barracks is not an appropriate location for 300 asylum seekers.

Douglas Alexander and Shirley-Anne Somerville emphasize the need for proper engagement and a reasonable, properly timed rollout, avoiding rushed processes.

The Home Office stated it would not repeat past rushed deployments that led to unsafe or chaotic situations, emphasizing a careful, staged rollout.

The Scottish Government maintains there was no consultation before the announcement, and the plan was postponed amid concerns.

The Scottish Government has called for clearer information and timely communication from the UK Government to enable local authorities to plan and assess support services, including funding.

Douglas Alexander claims Highland Council, the Scottish Government, the local police, and the NHS were informed prior to the public announcement and says he can provide correspondence from Scottish ministers as proof.

Swinney later described the proposals as drawn up on the back of an envelope, indicating a lack of detailed engagement rather than a notification issue, with the plan postponed amid local concerns.

Local concern in Highland Council and among residents centers on suitability, refurbishment needs for Cameron Barracks, and potential impacts on community readiness for a sudden influx of residents.

A Home Office spokesperson framed the move to military sites as part of reforms to tackle illegal migration and the use of asylum hotels, stressing safety and avoidance of past rushed mistakes.

There has been a rise in asylum seeker hotel placements, with a 13% increase over three months, totaling 36,273 people awaiting decisions as of the end of September.

Swinney acknowledged protests at hotels housing asylum seekers may be partly driven by racist sentiment and said such hostility must be confronted.