Government struggles to cut foreign aid spent on asylum hotels
Summary
The UK government is facing difficulties in reducing the amount of foreign aid spent on housing asylum seekers in hotels. Despite pledges to end the use of asylum hotels and cut costs, the planned spending for this year is still close to previous levels, indicating ongoing challenges.Key Facts
- The UK government plans to spend £2.2 billion of foreign aid on hotel accommodations for asylum seekers this year.
- This amount is slightly less than the £2.3 billion spent in the 2024/25 financial year.
- Approximately 32,000 asylum seekers are currently housed in hotels across the UK.
- The Home Office is trying to cut costs by speeding up asylum decisions and tightening financial checks.
- Rules allow some foreign aid money to be spent on asylum seekers in their first year in the UK.
- Large expenditures on asylum hotels have led to cuts in the UK's international development aid.
- The National Audit Office reported expected costs for asylum accommodation could rise to £15.3 billion.
- There is concern that these expenditures are affecting UK humanitarian and development goals overseas.
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