MORE than £1million is being wasted to pay for disused accommodation for asylum seekers, it was claimed today.

Pendle peer Lord Tony Greaves said he had proof the cash was being spent on private sector housing in Burnley and Pendle - even though no-one is living in the property.

But today the Home Office - responsible for the organisation that pays landlords to house asylum seekers - was unwilling to discuss the Liberal Democrat councillor's claims.

Burnley and Nelson were designated to house asylum seekers by the Government four years ago, each receiving around 200 people. But following the Burnley riots in 2001, police asked the Home Office not to send any more.

Since then the number in the two boroughs has dwindled to around 50.

But Lord Greaves claims an average of £100 per asylum seeker is still being paid.

The money is paid to landlords contracted to provide accommodation by the Government's National Asylum Support Service (NASS). There are more than 1,500 empty private sector places across the country being paid for - with a number thought to be in Burnley and Pendle.

Lord Greaves said: "Although the exact figures are not available there could be millions in public money wasted, lining the pockets of a few private landlords. It is a scandal.

"I can understand why dispersal was stopped in Burnley but there have been no problems in Nelson so why are asylum seekers no longer sent there? If people are requiring accommodation I don't understand why they are not coming to Pendle where there are beds available that are being paid for."

The request to end dispersal of asylum seekers to Burnley and Nelson was made three years ago and police chiefs feel the situation in Burnley is still too fragile for it to be restarted.

Chief Superintendent Jerry Graham said: "Following discussions with the Home Office three years ago it was agreed Lancashire would not receive any more asylum seekers at dispersal centres in the county. Since that time, a great deal of work has been done to improve community cohesion by the police and other agencies.

"For our part, we've introduced dedicated community beat managers across Burnley and Pendle to work more closely with local communities and we've worked with councils and other agencies on a variety of cohesion events and initiatives.

"We're also listening to our communities much more through initiatives like Police and Communities Together (PACT) and continually risk assessing racial, political, economic and criminal issues and the impact they might have on our local communities."

But he added: "Despite this good progress, we feel that the situation is still fragile and we have advised the Home Office accordingly. The situation is under constant review and we will be fully engaged in any future consultations on the subject of asylum."

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "Dispersal is kept under constant review. The whole principle behind the policy is to avoid tension by ensuring asylum seekers are supported on a sustainable basis across the country.

"We only disperse to areas with the agreement of local consortia."