Priti Patel issued 'ministerial direction' to push through Rwanda asylum plan despite civil servants concern, Sky News understands

The Home Secretary has issued a “ministerial direction” in relation to the Rwanda asylum plan, overruling concerns from her own civil servants, Sky News understands.

Ministerial directions are used when the top civil servant in a department has objected to the costs or feasibility of a spending plan.

A Home Office source said: “Home Office officials are clear that deterring illegal entry would create significant savings. However, such a deterrent effect cannot be quantified with certainty.

“It would be wrong to let a lack of precise modelling delay a policy aimed at reducing illegal migration, saving lives, and breaking the business model of the smuggling gangs.”

The UK government is attempting to crack down on Channel crossings by small boats and as part of the plans, the Home Office has signed a deal with Rwanda to send migrants to the landlocked African country.

Analysis

At a very basic level, ministerial directions are used when the government feels a situation is so critical, that it’s prepared to take the risk of taxpayer cash essentially being wasted.

During the pandemic, directions were issued for loan schemes, despite civil service concerns about the risk of fraud.

The justification was that the need to get money out fast to businesses to stop them from going bust outweighed the scale of potential losses.

Looking back now at the billions potentially wasted on fraud, many may wonder if more caution should have been shown.

The famous Eat Out To Help Out scheme also required a direction to address objections of a lack of evidence to show such a novel policy would achieve its aims.

A similar justification is being…

Source : skynews