THE Government has no plans to house asylum seekers at Morecambe's Grosvenor Hotel - and that's official.

Following details originally revealed in The Citizen, MP Geraldine Smith tabled a question in the House of Commons asking the Ministers to explain their proposals for the seafront hotel.

And Home Office Minister Barbara Roche replied last week: "The National Asylum Support Service has no plans to use the Grosvenor Hotel to house asylum seekers."

Geraldine Smith said: "I have discussed this issue at length with the Minister and made it quite clear that in my opinion the Grosvenor Hotel would be an inappropriate location for the housing of asylum seekers. "I was extremely pleased with her response, particularly with the assurance that great would be taken to avoid the use of inappropriate premises and locations and that the Asylum Support Services would seek the views of local authorities on these matters."

She added: "I have spoken to Mr Eagle who is the Director of the National Asylum Support Service and he has confirmed what the Minister told me. Whilst I accept that the dispersal of some asylum seekers is necessary in order to relieve the pressure around the main points of entry and that the Lancaster District may be required to play a part in that process, it is nevertheless of paramount importance that the issue is handled sensitively and sensibly. It would appear that Asylum Support Services are prepared to do this and I would urge the City Council to adopt a similar approach."