Asked by: Lord Hacking (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what monies they have thus far paid to the government of Rwanda; what further monies they are currently contracted to pay to that government; and what further costs they estimate will arise from the deportation of migrants under the Illegal Migration Act 2023.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Rwanda received an initial £120 million as part of the Economic and Transformation Fund, which has been used to expand Rwanda’s economic development and its capability of accommodating and welcoming new arrivals to benefit both migrants and host communities. In advance of flights, £20 million was paid to support initial set up costs for the relocation of individuals. Through the Economic Transformation and Integration Fund (ETIF) we have provided a further £100 million to Rwanda this financial year (23/24) and a further anticipated £50 million that may be payable in 2024. Information on funding will continue to be released as part of the Home Office Accounts publication each summer.
The Impact Assessment for the Illegal Migration Act can be found here: Impact Assessment (publishing.service.gov.uk).
Asked by: Lord Hacking (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many migrants are currently in accommodation provided by the Government in the UK, and how many are currently eligible for deportation under the Illegal Migration Act 2023.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
As of 30 September 2023, published statistics show that 119,010 asylum seekers are being accommodated. The relevant provisions of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 have not yet been enacted.
Asked by: Lord Hacking (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Penn on 19 July (HL Deb col 2319), whether their "plans for enhanced requirements applying to the termination of payment accounts" will include a requirement for banks to give customers sufficient reasons about the termination of an account whatever may be its terms and conditions.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The Government published its policy statement on 21 July, setting out its plans to strengthen requirements relating to payment account contract terminations. These changes will increase the minimum notice period in cases of contract termination to 90 days – giving customers more time to challenge a decision through the Financial Ombudsman Service, or find a replacement bank.
Banks will also be required to spell out to the affected customer why they are terminating their account – increasing transparency and aiding customers’ ability to appeal decisions. This requirement will be subject to limited exceptions where firms need to comply with existing legal obligations, for example, under financial crime law.
The Treasury is working closely with industry, law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure that expectations regarding these new requirements are clear.