VALE MP Peter Luff is calling on the Government to trial floating accommodation centres for asylum seekers.

Mr Luff spent a day visiting the floating centre in Holland and believes it would offer a much speedier solution to the problems of housing asylum seekers than building a centre at Throckmorton.

"The accommodation was simple but more than adequate. It was very much like a student hall of residence," he said.

"Although the barge floats, there is no movement, except with the tide. To look at it is very much like a block of flats."

Mr Luff visited Holland with Keith Best, Immigration Advisory Service chief executive, to see facilities provided by Bibby Line to the Dutch government.

Similar units are used by the Germans in Hamburg and are under consideration by the Norwegian and Swedish governments.

This floating unit currently houses 400 asylum seekers but can take up to 500. It is moored in the coastal town of Dordrecht, about a mile from the town centre.

Mr Luff said: "The residents were clearly happy with the accommodation itself - their complaints were more about he food and the fact they had to sign in daily.

"Their other major concern was that they were too far from town. Contrast the mile or so they are from a town of 120,000 people with the Government's plans to put 750 asylum seekers at Throckmorton, many miles from much smaller towns and I think you can see how wrong the plans are."

He argued the other main advantage is the flexibility of the barges. They could be moored anywhere and the facilities could be tailored accordingly. It would also mean up to 2,000 beds could be made available in a matter of weeks rather than in more than a year under the Government's current plans.

"I'm not saying that floating units will solve all the asylum problems we face but they could make a major contribution," said Mr Luff.

"I have prepared a presentation to show to the minister Beverley Hughes and any other interested body and I will be seeking a meeting with her as a matter of urgency," he added.