Migrants could return to the Bibby Stockholm barge within days following a Legionella scare, a government minister has suggested.
Will Quince, the health minister, said the government would make sure the barge was safe before any asylum seekers returned to it.
His comments come after 39 people were evacuated from the vessel, in Portland, Dorset, last week after tests results showed traces of the potentially dangerous bacteria in the barge’s water systems.
The evacuation took place just days after the first migrants boarded the controversial barge, which is designed to accommodate 500 people.
“Of course public health and safety is key, but we hope in the next few days we will be able to start getting people on to the Bibby Stockholm,” Mr Quince told LBC Radio.
“It is absolutely the right thing to do but public health and safety is always our paramount concern.”
Migrants remained onboard the barge for days after test results showed traces of Legionella in the water system, sparking a major row over the government response.
More to follow on this breaking news story…