Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Not Addressed
Home Office relocation operational planning lacks sufficient detail and transparency for scrutiny.
Conclusion
The Home Office acknowledged that there were many constraints that it would have to take into account when running the programme of relocations, and told us that it had developed plans and contingency options. It told us that its operational plans depended on the “flow” of relocations, but did not think it appropriate to provide detail on its operational planning.13 We asked whether the Home Office knew the location of those it wanted to remove, given that it did not have a good track record in this area. The Home Office told us that it had addresses for each of the individuals and that they were subject to regular reporting arrangements. We have previously examined the Home Office’s delivery of major programmes and raised concerns about over-optimism and the absence of plans, for example the Emergency Services Network.14
Government Response Summary
The government states it agrees and has implemented the recommendation, but the response details past costs and confirms the ending of the Rwanda partnership, completely failing to address the committee's concerns about detailed operational planning and contingencies for relocations.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 1.2 The Home Office has already set out the funds paid to the Government of Rwanda as part of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) in a letter to the Committee of 7 December 2023, alongside the department’s cooperation with the National Audit Office and Comptroller & Auditor General’s investigation into the costs of the partnership. Their report of 1 March 2024 accurately sets out the costs paid to Rwanda as part of the partnership. The funding paid to Rwanda is as follows: • £20 million advance payment as part of the operational funding, • £270 million in Economic Transformation and Integration Fund (ETIF) payments, to support economic development. I can confirm that this includes £50 million paid to Government of Rwanda in April 2024 after the Safety of Rwanda Act received Royal Assent and following the ratification of the UK-Rwanda Treaty: Agreement for the Provision of an Asylum Partnership (‘The Treaty’). 1.3 The government has now confirmed that it will be ending the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, and that there will be no removals to Rwanda under the MEDP.