§ Lord Dholakiaasked Her Majesty's Government:
What would be the cost to the Exchequer if all asylum seekers applying for entry into the United Kingdom were to be placed in secure accommodation. [HL2175]
180WA
§ Lord BachThe answer to your question depends on a number of variables, in particular, the number of asylum applicants and the length of time taken to complete the process to removal. Based on forecast asylum intakes and detention of between two and six months, the cost of procurement of the number of places required could be as much as £1.68 billion startup costs and annual running costs of up to £420 million. These costs take no account of the likely impact of this scale of detention on intake or savings that would inevitably occur on asylum support costs.