Downing Street has said on Monday that Ministers and the Prime Minister are focused on Rwanda flights to take off “in the spring.”
However, the House of Lords are debating the Safety of Rwanda Bill and will vote on Monday and on Wednesday for amendments.
Rishi Sunak has made it clear that in UK law “Rwanda is a safe country” and this will help to “stop the boats” crossing the English Channel.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said, “The Prime Minister is focused on delivering for the British people and stopping the boats, and he is clear that our partnership with Rwanda is one of the key levers to deliver this.
“Our legally binding treaty makes clear that individuals relocated to Rwanda under the partnership will not be returned to an unsafe country and building on our treaty the bill will make absolutely clear in UK law that Rwanda is a safe country and a key part of our efforts to stop the boats and save lives.
“Through our treaty and bill we will control our borders, deter people taking perilous journeys, reduce the strain on our public services and end the continuous legal challenges against removals.”
Last week the public spending watchdog has warned that the cost of the Prime Minister’s Rwanda asylum scheme could rise to a “staggering” half a billion.
The controversial Rwanda scheme could also end up costing hundreds of thousands more per asylum seeker to be kicked out of the UK.
So far the Home Office has remained tight lipped on how much more the asylum scheme could end up costing taxpayers.
The National Audit Office (NAO) revealed in a report that there will be millions of pounds more to spent plus an additional cost of £11,000 per plane ticket for each migrant.
Labour has hit out at Sunak’s “staggering figures” as the “extortionate bill the taxpayer will have to pay the Rwandan government for an unworkable and inhumane scheme.”
Critics have also blasted Sunak saying this is a “national scandal the Tories have been trying to hide.”
The government has earmarked an extra £50 million for 2025 and the NAO has revealed this amount will be sent next year and again in 2026, meaning the total cost for taxpayers will be £370 million.
The government will then pay on top of the £370 million another £120 million bringing the total to a whopping £490 million.
The Home Office will also hand over to Rwanda almost £151,000 per person, this will be used to cover integration and processing costs, including food, healthcare, education and accommodation over the next five years.
Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper 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 1% of UK asylum seekers to Rwanda on a few symbolic flights, the taxpayer will be forced to 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.”
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