The National Audit Office also says only two sites are up and running so far - at less than half their capacity - and set up costs for former RAF bases have gone through the roof.
The government's alternative plans for housing asylum seekers will actually cost the taxpayer millions more than the hotels they seek to replace, according to a public spending watchdog. A report from the National Audit Office said accommodating those waiting for asylum decisions on barges or former RAF bases would cost the Home Office £1.2bn - £46m more than using hotels.
The watchdog's report also said only Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm had begun housing people, with just 576 men placed at the former - which has a capacity of 1,700 - and 321 men at the latter - which has room for around 500 - by the end of January, though Scampton and Huddersfield should start taking people in the next two months.
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