Sir Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary at the Home Office, said civil servants were engaged in “all kinds of contingency planning” 39; Photo: Europa Newswire/Shutterstock
The Home Office's top civil servant has admitted he has no “plan B” if the government fails to implement its Rwanda policy.
Sir Matthew Rycroft, permanent Home Secretary, said civil servants were doing “all sorts of contingency plans” but he would not call it plan B because ministers had not agreed to such a scheme.
His comments come as the Government tries to salvage its deportation plan from Rwanda after the Supreme Court ruled it was illegal.
Number 10 is working with the Home Office and Attorney General Victoria Prentice on a new treaty and bill to satisfy the court, which had concerns that Rwanda's plan was unsafe due to the risk that asylum seekers sent there from the UK could be returned. to their home countries and were then persecuted.
The bill, which would ban any expulsion of asylum seekers from Rwanda once they have been moved there except in the UK, would declare Rwanda safe but would face fierce opposition in the House of Lords, especially if Rishi Sunak decides to exempt asylum from domestic and international human rights. laws.
When asked by the Commons Home Affairs Committee whether there was a Plan B, Sir Matthew said: “We're constantly doing all sorts of contingency plans. There is a lot planned, but I wouldn’t want to call it plan B.
“It may sound as if there is something very specific that ministers have already decided, because they haven't done so yet, and when they do they will make announcements in real time.
When asked again whether the Home Office was working on a plan B, he replied: “We are working on many ways to stop the boats.”
He said the contingencies included measures under the Illegal Migration Act, which gives ministers powers to detain and deport illegal migrants to their home country or a third, safe country, negotiate with other governments on return agreements and Rwanda-style schemes, and also “upstream”. ” We are fighting people smugglers on the borders of Europe.
He said negotiations for a new treaty were in the “final stages” and officials in Kigali were currently putting the “finishing touches.”
The Prime Minister intends to launch the first flights to Rwanda. in the spring.
Sir Matthew hinted that more money could be paid on top of the £140 million already allocated, but did not specify whether any additional payments had been made, instead saying ministers had decided they had not will do this. to make such information public before the summer.
He said: “There are additional payments made every year and ministers have decided that the way to keep you and other colleagues in Parliament up to date is to state the total amount of the additional payments once a year. payments.” payments to the Government of Rwanda and we will do this in the annual report and financial statements.”
“So the figures you set out, £120 million plus £20 million, represent payments from O 2022-23 financial year and then any payments in financial year 23-24 will be announced in the normal way in the next annual report.”
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