Priti Patel’s top official warned that there was insufficient evidence that the plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda would have a “deterrent effect”.
In a letter, Matthew Rycroft said the policy would only be value for money if it stopped illegal Channel crossings.
But the home secretary replied it would be “imprudent” to allow a lack of modeling to delay the scheme.
The letters were released after Ms Patel had to personally approve the scheme due to officials’ concerns.
The exchange between Ms Patel and her permanent secretary was made public by the Home Office after it emerged she had issued a rare “ministerial directive” to enforce the plans, meaning she accepts responsibility for them.
Under the £120million scheme announced this week, people believed to have entered the UK illegally will be transported to the east African country where they can apply for the right to reside.
It met with widespread opposition, with more than 160 charities and campaign groups calling on ministers to scrap what they described as “cruel” policies. It has also been criticized by opposition parties and some Conservatives.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, used his Easter Sunday sermon to raise “serious ethical questions” about the scheme, before adding that it is contrary to the nature of God.”
In a letter to the Home Secretary dated April 13 last year, Mr Rycroft said she had made it clear that the “rationale” for the policy was “to break the business model of people smugglers while maintaining a fair and robust immigration and border system.” “. .
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He conceded that it would also involve preventing the “tragic loss of life in the English Channel”, preventing “dangerous and illegal travel to Britain” and the £1.5 billion annual cost of the asylum system to the British taxpayer to manage something.
The permanent secretary said while it was “normal, appropriate and feasible for this policy to continue,” there was “uncertainty” about the plan’s value for money.
He said there were “potentially significant savings to be made by deterring people entering the UK illegally” but the scheme’s value for money depended on how well it deterred people from doing so to travel.
He wrote: “Evidence of a deterrent effect is highly uncertain and cannot be quantified with sufficient certainty to give me the necessary assurance of value for money.”
“I do not believe that sufficient evidence can be obtained to show that the policy will have a deterrent effect significant enough to make the policy value for money.”
Mr Rycroft said that doesn’t mean the system couldn’t provide a deterrent – but said there was “insufficient evidence for me to conclude that will be the case”.
In her reply the same day, Ms Patel said she understood it was not possible for the government to accurately model the deterrent effect of the system “from day one”, but said she was “confident that this policy is our best chance.” is to achieve this effect”.
She said: “Without action, costs will continue to rise, lives will continue to be lost.”
The home secretary added it would be “unwise” to “allow the lack of quantifiable and dynamic modeling – which is inevitable when developing a response to global crises influenced by so many geopolitical factors such as climate change, war and conflict” to delay delivery, a policy that we believe will reduce illegal migration, save lives and ultimately destroy the business model of smuggling gangs”.
Ms Patel formally instructed Mr Rycroft to continue the program with immediate effect.
On Thursday, the UK and Rwanda unveiled a new deal that would see some asylum seekers given a one-way ticket to the East African nation.
Here’s what we know about the scheme so far:
- The program will focus primarily on single men entering the UK illegally in small boats or lorries
- People who have arrived in the UK this way since January 1st can be sent to Rwanda where their asylum claims will be processed
- While their entitlements are being assessed, they will be provided with shelter and support, and are free to leave and leave their accommodations at any time
- Those whose asylum claims are accepted would be helped to build a “new life” in Rwanda, with up to five years of access to education and support there, the UK government says
- Those whose applications are rejected are given the option to apply to remain in Rwanda or be deported to their country of origin or another country where they have a right to reside
- The British government has announced that the first asylum seekers could be flown to Rwanda within a few weeks
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