£134 Million Wasted on Unused IT Systems for Failed Rwanda Asylum Scheme

The Conservative government of the UK has reportedly spent over £134 million on IT and data systems for a controversial asylum seeker deportation scheme to Rwanda, which will ultimately never be used. The figures were revealed by the Observer, highlighting that the digital tools purchased comprise the second-largest expense in the program, which has cost a total of approximately £715 million in just over two years.

A significant portion of this expenditure went towards setting up a database to handle anticipated complaints related to human rights oversight and systems enforcing a legal obligation to remove asylum seekers arriving by small boats. Despite the massive investment, the incoming Labour government has decided to scrap the policy, labeling it a "shocking waste" of taxpayer money.

Officials from the Home Office attribute the high costs to compliance with data protection laws, necessitating a proper IT framework to handle biometric information and appeals under the scheme. A further breakdown of expenditures reveals £87 million spent on staff dedicated to the Rwanda project, alongside £57 million allocated for legal battles and programme costs.

Critics, including the Public and Commercial Services union, assert that the funds could have been better allocated towards effective solutions for managing small boat crossings in the English Channel. The Rwanda scheme, originally proposed to deter illegal crossings, has seen record numbers of boats in the months following its announcement and has resulted in numerous fatalities.

As the Labour government seeks alternatives to the previous administration's approach, shadow home secretary Chris Philp emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive plan to address illegal immigration effectively.