Govt 'funding repatriation'
The government has been paying for free flights for unwanted foreigners to return home
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Sunday, 16, Dec 2007 04:19
The government has reportedly been paying failed asylum seekers up to £4,000 each in order to persuade them to return to their own country.
The Sunday Telegraph reports that more than 23,000 immigrants have taken advantage of the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme at a cost of £36 million to the taxpayer, according to the latest figures.
Grants include a free flight to asylum seekers' home country, £1,000 in cash as well as a sum of £3,000 to enable them to start a business upon their return.
Shadow home secretary David Davis criticised the scheme as a form of bribery but government representatives said the programme enabled authorities to deal with excess migration in a more cost-effective manner.
Home Office Border and Immigration Agency deputy director Cheryl Cates told the Telegraph that forcing someone to leave the country involved additional costs of arrest, accommodation and expensive flights. She explained that the voluntary repatriation scheme was cheaper than deporting criminals and ensured that people were treated with dignity.
She stated that a total of £200 million had been saved by paying immigrants to return rather than making them leave the country forcibly.
A spokesman for the Home Office told the paper: "Last year we removed more failed asylum seekers than ever before. We will not hesitate to use enforced returns, but when we can spare British taxpayers the cost, we will.
"Repatriation assistance isn't new and frees money to hire more immigration officers."
News of the scheme comes as the government seeks to tighten regulations on those entering the country. Under new proposals to tighten immigrants, the duration of temporary tourist visas is set to be halved and sponsors will have to pay a £1,000 bond before inviting anyone to stay with them.
The new policy on immigration will affect visitors from outside the EU seeking to come to the country.