Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Asylum Seekers: Relocation to Rwanda

Monday 25 April 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK is providing an initial investment of 120 million of support for the partnership with Rwanda.
  • Labour Front Bench Members criticized the policy as extortionate.
  • The policy aims to deter small boat crossings and ensure safe and humane asylum processes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The policy to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda has faced criticism for its potential cost and ethical implications.

Question

What estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the Government's policy to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda?

Answer from Priti Patel

Our world-leading migration and economic development partnership with Rwanda will be a major boost to Rwanda and allow us to focus our efforts on people in need, not those who have the ability to pay people smugglers to make dangerous, illegal journeys from safe countries such as France.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide an estimate of cost to public purse

How: Chuntering About This Last Week, Completely Illogical Because If It Is Not Workable, It Will Not Cost The British Taxpayer Money

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Q2 Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The policy is criticized for its high cost or inefficacy in deterring people smugglers.

Question

Will the Home Secretary tell me how much the policy will cost per person, or what her maximum budget is?

Answer from Priti Patel

The UK is providing an initial investment of £120 million of support for the partnership as part of the new economic transformation and integration fund. I heard what the hon. Member's party said—Labour Front Bench Members were chuntering about this last week—in calling the policy extortionate and unworkable.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide cost per person or maximum budget, only initial investment amount

How: Chuntering About This Last Week, Calling The Policy Extortionate And Unworkable

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Q3 Scott Benton
Immigration Migrants & Borders
Context

The Home Secretary's plan to deter illegal immigration is noted for its potential cost implications if successful.

Question

Does she agree that if the trend of no small boat crossings continues, the cost of the policy will take care of itself?

Answer from Priti Patel

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and comments. First, Labour is still trying to work out that doing nothing is not an option at all, because people have died. Secondly, the policy is exactly that: it is all about deterrence as well as ensuring that we can provide the right safe and humane approach for people who need our asylum system while cracking down on people smuggling gangs.

Not addressed: Did not address the cost implications of continued trend reduction in illegal immigration

How: Labour Is Still Trying To Work Out That Doing Nothing Is Not An Option At All, Because People Have Died

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