Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Gainsborough, has welcomed the news that the government’s auditor will investigate Home Office plans to temporarily house illegal migrants at RAF Scampton and other sites.

In a letter to the Gainsborough MP, Comptroller & Auditor General Gareth Davies said he would undertake “an examination of the Home Office’s plans to develop larger-scale sites to house people seeking asylum” and confirmed that his National Audit Office team has already begun work on this.

Sir Edward, who last month wrote to Gareth Davies asking him to investigate urgently, welcomed the news that RAF Scampton would be included in this investigation.

“The evidence is clear that there is no value for money in housing illegal migrants at Scampton,” the MP said. “We have a £300-million regeneration to deal ready to go, but the Home Office is preventing this to use a miniscule portion of this 800-acre site.”

“From my time as Chairman of Public Accounts, I know that the National Audit Office will conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation of Scampton and other proposals,” Sir Edward continued. “Their report will be published and laid in Parliament and we await its conclusions.”

In the meantime, Sir Edward said he would “keep up the pressure” on ministers and officials, urging them to “work with West Lindsey District Council to find a way forward”.