Britain is temporarily refusing to deploy its amphibious assault ship Bulwark on migrant rescue missions because of a diplomatic row over where the rescued should be disembarked and processed.

The Guardian newspaper said the warship, equipped with helicopters and landing craft, is at anchor in Sicily having been dispatched by Prime Minister David Cameron for use within a pan-European attempt to save migrant lives, amid a public outcry over record numbers of drownings in the Mediterranean.

But the vessel did not take part in a record-breaking weekend of search and rescue missions in which about 7,000 people were fished from dinghies and other unpromising vessels.

Involvement has been held up by deliberations between the Italian and British foreign ministries. Britain wants a guarantee that the migrants rescued by HMS Bulwark can be taken to Italian ports, the newspaper said.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “The prime minister was clear at the European council that Britain would be playing its role in tackling the current crisis in the Mediterranean but that our focus would be on saving lives, not offering people asylum in the UK.

“Discussions between EU partners remain ongoing to ensure close coordination and we are not going to speculate on any operational decisions at this stage.”