Rishi Sunak maintains trust in Suella Braverman amid Legionella finding.

Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the Bibby Stockholm, Downing Street has stated that Rishi Sunak still has confidence in the home secretary and her department.

The prime minister's official spokesman defended the Home Office's response to the discovery of Legionella on the barge, stating that lessons would be learned from the incident.

Last Friday, asylum seekers were removed from the barge after Legionella bacteria was found in the vessel's water system.

Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires' disease, a potentially deadly lung infection contracted by breathing in droplets of water containing the bacteria.

According to the Home Office, none of the migrants on the barge have shown any symptoms of the disease.

It was later revealed that people spent four days on board the barge after the bacteria was discovered before being removed as a precautionary measure by the Home Office.

The discovery has led to a blame game between Dorset Council, contractors, and the Home Office regarding who was notified and when.

Dorset Council claims that Home Office contractors were notified about the results four days before people were moved off the barge, while the council also alleges that a Home Office staff member was informed about the bacteria a day later.

However, a government source denies this conversation took place and claims that the Home Office only received written notification about the Legionella on Wednesday evening.

Downing Street maintains that the government acted quickly upon being informed about the traces of Legionella bacteria.

When asked about the role of contractors, the spokesman stated that relevant groups would be communicated with to learn any lessons.

While the Home Office clarifies when officials were made aware of the issues on the Bibby Stockholm barge, ministers were made aware of the test results on Thursday evening.

The decision to put migrants on the boat before the test results came back was made by the Home Office in conjunction with relevant tests and checks, according to the spokesman.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay believes that migrants should be moved back onto the barge despite the controversy, as it is an important tool in reducing the cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels.

Number 10 declined to provide a timeline for when people might return to the barge, stating that the Home Office is awaiting the results of further tests.

The Bibby Stockholm barge is one of several alternative sites the Home Office is using to reduce reliance on expensive hotels for asylum seekers.

Charities have expressed concern that those on board have been re-traumatized after the evacuation following the discovery of Legionella.

Conservative ministers have faced calls to resign over the saga, with former cabinet minister David Davis criticizing the "startling incompetence" of the Home Office.

The government believes that the existence of the barge will deter those arriving in England via small boats in the Channel.

However, last week saw the highest daily number of people crossing the Channel, with 755 migrants making the journey on Thursday.

The government was also forced to defend its immigration strategy after at least six people died in a small boat capsizing and sinking during a crossing from France to the UK.