Six-year £500m contract to manage migrant centres

More than 900 people crossed the English Channel in 17 boats on 5 October

The government is advertising a six-year contract worth £521m to manage two sites in Kent used to process migrants arriving in the UK on small boats.

There will be an option to extend the six-year contract for a further four years.

That suggests the Home Office does not think the issue of small boat crossings will be resolved anytime soon.

The contract will involve managing the Western Jet Foil in Dover, where migrants are brought to shore after being picked up in the English Channel while attempting the crossing from France in small boats, as well as the Manston Reception Centre, where people are taken for processing before being dispersed across the country.

About 27,000 people have made the crossing so far this year.

The government says it is looking for an operator which can provide accommodation, healthcare and catering services for migrants, as well as a safe and secure environment for Border Force Officers to register new arrivals.

The advertisement does however state that there will be break clauses which will be applied if government policy succeeds in bringing numbers down.

On Friday a total of 142 migrants crossed the English Channel to Kent in two boats following a break of five days without any crossings.

The previous government had earmarked £700m to manage the arrival of migrants on small boats up until 2030.

Under the plans commercial partners would run services at "permanent" facilities.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are procuring to reduce the number of providers that run the Manston site to cut costs and save the taxpayer money.

"However, in time, as we take down the people smuggling gangs through the work of the Border Security Command, we expect see fewer people exploited into making these dangerous journeys.”