Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2022 to Question 67920 on Asylum: Rwanda, what assessment of set up costs was made to support the determination of an upfront payment of £20 million; what value for money assessment was carried out on that £20 million payment; whether there will be a further assessment of how that payment is spent by the Government of Rwanda before agreeing further payments; and what the original £120 million payment covered given the requirement for an additional £20 million to cover set up costs.

Under our Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) with Rwanda, the UK has provided Rwanda with an initial investment of £120m as part of a new Economic Transformation and Integration Fund. This will go towards Rwanda’s development creating professional and personal development opportunities for migrants and Rwandans alike.

We have also undertaken to provide funding to Rwanda for each individual relocated. This funding will cover asylum processing (case workers, translators etc), accommodation, healthcare, and for those granted protection, a comprehensive integration package. As part of this, the UK made a £20m upfront payment to the Government of Rwanda to support initial set up costs.

The Government of Rwanda is responsible for the allocation of the funding they receive. However, the Joint Committee will monitor the overall implementation and operation of all aspects of the Partnership.

A full value for money assessment was undertaken as part of the Accounting Officer advice provided to Ministers on the MEDP.