- Home Office publishes economic Impact Assessment on the
Illegal Migration Bill
- The assessment forecasts a benefit of over £100,000 for every
illegal migrant deterred by the Bill
- The findings support the need for swift action to reduce the
pressure on UK asylum system
- The Illegal Migration Bill returns to House of Lords this
week
The Illegal Migration Bill will save the UK taxpayer £106,000 for
every illegal migrant deterred from making a dangerous small boat
crossing – which could potentially rise to a saving of £165,000
per migrant deterred if accommodation costs continue to increase
- an Impact Assessment published by the Home Office has found.
The Home Office has published an economic Impact Assessment into
the Illegal Migration Bill, which will stop the boats by
detaining and swiftly removing people who make dangerous and
illegal journeys to the UK.
Comparing the Bill’s financial impact to a ‘do nothing’
alternative, the assessment found the Bill could reduce pressures
on the housing market and public services with fewer people
supported through the UK’s asylum system.
The Impact Assessment also used evidence from other countries to
demonstrate the potential for the Bill to reduce the number of
people taking dangerous and unnecessary journeys crossing the
Channel when the Bill is implemented.
Home Secretary said:
“Our Impact Assessment shows that doing nothing is not an
option.
“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.”
The costs of accommodating illegal migrants have increased
dramatically since 2020. The asylum system currently costs the UK
taxpayer £3.6 billion a year and £6 million a day to accommodate
51,000 asylum seekers in hotels.
The report estimates that if the policy deters 37% of arrivals
there would be no cost to the taxpayer. Under the current cost of
accommodation, this works out at a saving of £106,000 for every
migrant deterred from crossing the Channel. The Impact Assessment
shows that this could be as high as £165,000 if hotel costs
continue to rise over the next few years.
It is the intention of the landmark ‘Stop the Boats’ Bill to
change the law so those arriving illegally in the UK will be
detained and swiftly removed to their home country or removed to
a safe third country.
The Impact Assessment sets out the variable costs of implementing
the Bill and examples of where policy and operations has
influenced migrant behaviour.
Its publication marks the Home Office’s dedication to
transparency and fair scrutiny of the Illegal Migration
Bill.
The assessment found that the Illegal Migration Bill would lead
to wider asylum system benefits from fewer migrants being
supported by the taxpayer, including reduced pressure on the UK’s
modern slavery system and local authorities.
Having set out the financial implications of its delivery, the
government is committed to moving forward with the Bill’s passage
through Parliament.
The Bill has now passed the Committee Stage in the House of Lords
and will now progress to Report Stage.
It was voted through by the Commons, with a majority of 289 votes
to 230.
The innovative legislation is part of a range action underway
across government to Stop the Boats.
This includes taking action to reduce the reliance on expensive
hotels and deliver a more orderly, cost effective and sustainable
asylum accommodation system through finding alternative
accommodation for migrants – including berthed vessels.
The Home Office is myth busting the lies of organised criminal
gangs through its foreign-language information campaign in
Albanian which warns prospective migrants that they risk perilous
conditions, detention and removal if they enter the UK
illegally.
Following our close collaboration with the Government of Albania,
the number of Albanian small boat arrivals has fallen by almost
90 per cent this year.
In the winter months of January to March 2023, only 28 Albanians
arrived on small boats.
The Prime Minister has made clear that while progress is being
made, there is still work to do and obstacles ahead of
us.
This is why we must keep using every tool at our disposal to stop
the boats and why the Stop the Boats Bill must become law.
Notes to Editors:
- The Impact Assessment found that if
the cost per night for a migrant to stay in hotel accommodation
continues to increase at the trend observed since 2020, then over
a four-year period the Bill would save the taxpayer £165,000 for
every migrant who is deterred from crossing the Channel.
- The Impact Assessment on the
Illegal Migration Bill can be found here: Illegal Migration Bill:
overarching documents - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
