Rwanda deportations to cost £63,000 more per person than if they were held in UK, Government data shows
The controversial scheme to relocate asylum seekers and illegal immigrants to Rwanda could cost around £60,000 more per head than holding them in the UK, Home Office figures reveal.
A Government cost assessment suggested flying people to Rwanda will come with a price tag of £169,000 per person.
Possible savings from relocating people are “uncertain” given the policy has not yet been implemented – but estimates suggest not having someone in the asylum system would save £106,000, leaving a net cost of £63,000 per person.
This would mean funding the policy would come at a cost tens of thousands of pounds higher to the taxpayer.
According to the Home Office, however, the deterrent impact of the new laws will generate savings overall.
The cost of nearly £170,000 would “only be incurred for people who arrive in the UK illegally”, the document said.
“If an individual is deterred from entering the UK illegally, then no cost would be incurred,” the assessment concluded.
Home Office insiders pointed to a line in the report that estimated the policy could be cost-neutral if it stopped 37 per cent of people from making the journey to the UK.
But, as the policy is new and has not yet been implemented, it is not clear whether its deterrent rate would be this high.
The long-awaited impact assessment of the Illegal Migration Bill – the new laws designed to stop dangerous boat crossings – was published on Monday.
Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, said it proves “doing nothing is not an option”.
She said: “We cannot allow a system to continue which incentivises people to risk their lives and pay people smugglers to come to this country illegally, while placing an unacceptable strain on the UK taxpayer.
“I urge MPs and peers to back the bill to stop the boats, so we can crack down on people-smuggling gangs while bringing our asylum system back into balance.”
Ms Braverman is coming under mounting pressure to deliver on her pledges to reduce the number of illegal boat crossings.
Since the initial Rwanda policy was announced under her predecessor, Priti Patel, more than a year ago, legal challenges have prevented any people being relocated.
Meanwhile, the Home Secretary’s plans to house asylum seekers on barges to reduce the cost of keeping them in hotels have been beset with delays.
Ms Braverman had promised the Bibby Stockholm accommodation vessel, which will house around 500 people, would be in Portland Port a week ago but it remains in Falmouth where it is undergoing checks and maintenance.
The Home Secretary wants to use barges and sites including converted military bases to house asylum seekers and reduce the £6m daily cost of hotel accommodation.
But on Monday, i revealed that flagship new asylum centres may only hold Channel migrants for three months before they go back into hotels if they cannot be deported.
One insider said Home Office officials told them that asylum seekers will only be held at RAF Wethersfield for three months while their claims are being processed.
The revelations will prompt concerns the asylum sites will make little impact on the overall cost of housing people, given their claims are likely to take months to come to a conclusion.
