Ann Salter of Freedom from Torture said: “It’s time for the government to listen, close the barge, and urgently refocus its efforts into rebuilding a fair, efficient, and compassionate system that protects people who have come to this country in the hope of finding safety.”

A Refugee Council spokesperson said: “We remain deeply concerned that the Home Office continues to cram people seeking safety into completely inappropriate and clearly harmful accommodation. Whether it’s a hotel or a barge, the government is spending vast sums of money and causing undue misery to people who have come to our country to find safety, the strong majority of whom will be recognised as refugees in need of protection.

“We must treat people seeking asylum with compassion and fairness, including by providing safe and dignified accommodation while they are in the UK asylum system. Instead of spending time and money on inhumane accommodation and unworkable policies, the government must focus on operating a fair and efficient asylum system that respects refugees’ human rights, processes claims quickly, and upholds the right to a fair hearing on UK soil. ”

Mr Cleverly insisted that he was “totally confident” the Bibby Stockholm met all legal requirements when grilled by the committee earlier this week.