Ministers ‘only told of Bibby Stockholm legionella three days after test results’

Health secretary says he does not know if Dorset council informed Home Office officials about presence on barge earlier

Ministers were not told about the presence of the potentially deadly legionella bacteria on the Bibby Stockholm barge until Thursday night, the health secretary has said, three days after health protection officials informed the county council.

Steve Barclay said he could not say whether Dorset council had informed Home Office officials earlier about the test results on the vessel, which is being used to house asylum seekers, but that ministers first knew late on Thursday.