In a newly released report by the National Audit Office (NAO), it has been revealed that the United Kingdom will pay at least £370 million to Rwanda as part of its plan to relocate asylum seekers. The move has sparked controversy, with critics calling it a “national scandal.” However, the Home Office argues that the cost of not taking action would be far greater.
Under the five-year deal, the UK government will be able to send individuals who arrive in the country illegally to Rwanda to claim asylum. The objective of this policy is to deter people from crossing the English Channel in small boats, which has become a significant concern for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The cost breakdown, disclosed in the NAO report, outlines that each person sent to Rwanda over the five-year period will attract a payment of up to £150,000. Additionally, the UK has already paid £220 million into an economic development fund since April 2022, with further annual payments of £50 million scheduled for the next three years.
If more than 300 people are relocated to Rwanda, the UK will make a one-off payment of £120 million into the fund, in addition to £20,000 per individual relocated. Moreover, the UK government has pledged to provide up to £150,874 per person to cover essential expenses such as accommodation, food, and education. These payments will cease if the individual chooses to leave Rwanda, with the UK instead paying £10,000 per person to facilitate their departure.
However, the cost of implementing this scheme may increase from £20 million to £28 million, according to the NAO report. Additionally, there are future expenses to consider, including an estimated £11,000 per individual for flights to Rwanda.
The NAO report does not pass judgment on whether the scheme represents value for money, as its success will depend on whether it effectively deters illegal migration to the UK.
Labour, the main opposition party in the UK, has vowed to scrap the Rwanda policy if it wins the next election. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the scheme as an expensive “gimmick” and echoed the NAO’s findings, calling it a “national scandal.”
The report was commissioned in response to a request from two cross-party committees of MPs, namely the Public Accounts and Home Affairs Committees. The committees expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency regarding the costs of the scheme in a letter from the Home Office’s most senior civil servant.
Despite the political debate surrounding the policy, the Home Office remains committed to implementing the relocation plan. They argue that illegal migration not only poses risks to human lives but also perpetuates human trafficking. Funding solutions to break this cycle is considered a necessary step.
The debate over the UK’s asylum seeker policy will continue to unfold as legislation seeking to revive the plan is set to be discussed in the House of Lords next week. Critics are expected to seize on the newly revealed costs, adding another layer of scrutiny to this contentious issue.
As the country moves forward with its plans, the fate of asylum seekers and the efficacy of the Rwanda policy remain at the forefront of the national conversation, with stakeholders assessing the costs, benefits, and humanitarian impact of this approach.
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