Yvette Cooper comments on the NAO's report on Rwanda scheme costs

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on the National Audit Office’s report into the costs of the Rwanda scheme, said:

“This report reveals the national scandal the Tories have been trying to hide. Its shocking analysis shows the costs of the failed Rwanda farce are even higher than previously thought.

“In order to send less than one per cent of UK asylum seekers to Rwanda on a few symbolic flights, the taxpayer will be forced fork out over half a billion pounds - with no ability to recover any of the money already sent. This is the equivalent of nearly £2 million per person sent.

“Rishi Sunak has staked his position on this scheme. He must account for this fiasco.

“Labour will restore order to the border redirecting this money to fund a proper border security plan with more cross border police and new powers to smash the criminal smuggler gangs and a new returns unit backed by 1,000 staff to fast-track removals of those with no right to stay.”

Ends

Notes:

• The report contains new revelations about the costs of the Rwanda scheme:
  
  
• • £370m has been pledged to Rwanda under the terms of the Economic Transformation and Integration Fund, with no conditions on individuals being sent (p. 6)
    
    
  • £32.2m has been incurred by the Home Office in preparation costs, in addition to £2m per year in staff & training costs (p. 14):
  • • £2m staff costs
    • £2.3m legal fees
    • £15.3m set-up costs
    • £12.6m for training escorts
      
      
  • A further £120m will be transferred after 300 individuals have been removed (p. 12)
    
    
  • Per-person processing costs will total £182,000:
  • • £20,000 under ETIF (p. 12)
    • £151,000 processing costs (p. 13)
    • £11,000 removal costs (p. 14)
      
      
• If the government meet the 300-person threshold, it will account for less than 1% of the UK’s asylum cohort at a cost of approximately £576.8 million – at a per-person cost of £1.92 million
  
  
• • Total individuals applying for asylum in the UK (year ending December 2023), 84,425How many people do we grant protection to? - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
  • • 300 / 84,425 = 0.36%
      
      
  • Total cost for 300 individuals:
  • • £370m + £120m + £32.2m + £54.6m (£182,000 x 300) = £576.8 million
    • £576.8 million / 300 = £1.92 million

Labour’s five-point plan to reform the asylum system:

1. Crackdown on criminal smuggler gangs, through new Cross-Border Police Unit and deeper security cooperation with Europe

A Labour Government would crackdown on criminal smuggler gangs by introducing stronger powers for the UK’s National Crime Agency to restrict the movement of those suspected of being involved in people smuggling and setting up a new cross-border police unit with officers based in the UK and across Europe to tackle gangs upstream.

That would include officers being posted directly to Europol to collaborate on joint investigations and to identify and seize boats upstream. Labour will also seek to negotiate a new security agreement with Europe, including a replacement to SIS-II, to allow for the real-time sharing of intelligence on people smuggling suspects. To fund this, Labour would redirect spending from the unworkable Rwanda scheme, which the government has admitted is subject to a very high risk of fraud.

2. End hotel use, clear the Tory asylum backlog, and speed up returns to safe countries

Labour will save the taxpayer billions by ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers within 12 months and setting up a new returns unit for safe countries. Labour will recruit over 1,000 Home Office caseworkers to clear the record Tory asylum backlog, and a further 1,000 staff for a new returns unit so that those who do not have a right to stay here can be quickly removed, and we end the use of costly hotels at the taxpayers’ expense. Labour will fast track decisions on applications from safe countries, like India and Albania, which are unlikely to be granted; and establish a new returns unit to reverse the 44% collapse in asylum removals that the Tory Government has overseen since 2010.

3. Reform resettlement routes to stop people being exploited by gangs

Labour would redesign the existing resettlement schemes which are not currently working properly so that they include a clearer process for refugees with family connections in the UK to be considered for resettlement, preventing them being exploited by criminal gangs or making dangerous journeys.

4. New agreement with France and other countries on returns and family reunion

Labour would negotiate a new agreement which includes safe returns and safe family reunions for child refugees.

5. Tackle humanitarian crises at source helping refugees in their region

Labour would work in partnership internationally to address some of the humanitarian crises that are leading people to flee their homes including restoring the 0.7% aid commitment when the fiscal situation allows and strengthening support for the people of Afghanistan, currently the largest group trying to cross the Channel.