By Patel warned over Rwanda plan’s uncertainty
According to reports, the top civil servant to the Home Secretary warned her there was not enough evidence of the “deterrent effect” of the recently announced plan.
The first asylum seekers could be flown to Rwanda from the UK within weeks following the announcement of a new pilot.
The scheme will focus on single men crossing the Channel in boats or lorries from France.
The prime minister said it would “save countless lives”, but critics called the plan “inhumane”.
Andrew Griffith MP said the new scheme would not require new legislation and could be implemented under “existing conventions”.
He told BBC Newsnight it could therefore be launched “in weeks or a small number of months”.
In a letter, however, Matthew Rycroft said there wasn’t “sufficient evidence” of the scheme’s benefits.
It has emerged the Home Secretary has issued a “ministerial direction”, which would mean taking personal responsibility for the scheme.
The £120m was announced this week to tackle those entering the UK illegally.
Mr. Rycroft acknowledged that it was to allegedly prevent “tragic loss of life in the channel”, but said while it was “regular, proper and feasible for this policy to proceed” there would be uncertainty.
“Evidence of a deterrent effect is highly uncertain and cannot be quantified with sufficient certainty to provide me with the necessary level of assurance over value for money.
“I do not believe sufficient evidence can be obtained to demonstrate that the policy will have a deterrent effect significant enough to make the policy value for money”.
Priti Patel responded by saying she was “confident this policy is our best chance at producing that effect”.
According to reports, Ms. Patel formally directed Mr. Rycroft to proceed with the scheme with immediate effect.
