Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 95 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2022-23: Supplementary Estimates, published on 21 February 2023, how the additional £269,000,000 funding to tackle illegal immigration was spent.

Funding drawn down to cover illegal migration spend across the illegal migration portfolio was used for both: a range of measures announced during the financial year 22/23; and additional asylum support costs. The £269,000,000 referenced was principally used for two areas: the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) with Rwanda Factsheet: Migration and Economic Development Partnership - Home Office in the media (blog.gov.uk); and to cover increasing asylum support costs.

Asylum Support costs represent spending to meet our statutory obligations for providing support to destitute asylum seekers in the UK, which includes the provision of accommodation, transportation, and support services to the Supported Population. We also fund Local Authorities for their costs incurred in supporting Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children & Care Leavers.