The Home Office has played down suggestions that asylum seekers could get "luxury" private health care treatment while in the UK.

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said "no decisions have been taken" about the precise arrangement for the health care in accommodation centres.

To suggest that we envisage luxury health care along the lines of that provided by private health care schemes is rubbish

Home Office spokeswoman

Earlier on Sunday, a Home Office spokeswoman confirmed private health firms such as Bupa could be brought in to treat asylum seekers.

Home Secretary David Blunkett wants new processing centres to have their own doctors and nurses so that local GP surgeries are not left unable to cope.

'Value for money'

Speaking on Sunday evening, a Home Office spokeswoman said: "To suggest that we envisage luxury health care along the lines of that provided by private health care schemes is rubbish.

"We will be looking for decent, appropriate services that offer value for money for the taxpayer."

The move to consider private health firms has prompted anger among those opposed to the asylum seeker accommodation centres planned by the government.

The Conservative MP for mid-Worcester, Peter Luff, warned that the move could create tensions.

His constituents in Throckmorton are currently challenging one of the planned detention centres.

We should not supply better services to asylum seekers than we do to established British residents

Simon Hughes

"This policy will mean that asylum seekers will be given better facilities than locals," he told the Sunday Telegraph.

"The burden on the taxpayer will be huge."

Healthcare issue

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: "We should not supply better services to asylum seekers than we do to established British residents.

"Both should receive the services they need."

The real issue was how to process claims quickly, to look after those with real needs, he added.

Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said:

"The issue is not the level of healthcare for asylum seekers but the level of healthcare for British citizens.

"If we had a health service that was structured in the right way, that delivered proper, fast healthcare for everybody in Britain, then this whole issue would not have arisen."

Accommodation centres are planned to house refugees

Health minister Lord Hunt raised the possibility of private health care for asylum seekers in a Parliamentary answer released as MPs broke for the summer.

"The intention is to minimise the impact which the accommodation centres will have on local GPs and other health services," he said.

"The on-site health care facilities will be provided under contract to the Home Office.

"Local GPs and other health services may be involved in the delivery of these services - alternatively, the on-site health care may be provided by other providers."

Hunger and poverty

Earlier this month Oxfam and the Refugee Council said asylum seekers in the UK were suffering unacceptable levels of poverty, hunger and poor health.

They said research of 40 organisations dealing with refugees found many could not afford to buy essential clothes or shoes.

Eighty per cent of the organisations said refugees were unable to maintain good health.