Arrivals of migrants in small boats could continue for a decade, ministers say as vast sums are spent on the Channel crisis

• Asylum system costs £4bn a year, including £8m a day to put migrants in hotels
• READ MORE: A record 38,7000 asylum seekers are given refuge in the UK

Ministers anticipate small-boat arrivals could continue for up to a decade, it has emerged, amid vast sums being spent on the Channel crisis. 

The Home Office thinks migrant reception centres will continue operating for up to ten years at a cost of £700million. 

Documents show ministers are seeking contractors for the processing centre at Manston, Kent, and a reception site at Western Jet Foil, in the port of Dover where Channel migrants disembark. 

The contracts would run until at least 2030 and potentially until 2034, the BBC reported. 

The Government’s official legal advice on Rwanda, published yesterday, confirmed figures which emerged in June, indicating the cost of asylum accommodation alone could spiral to £11billion a year. 

The Home Office thinks migrant reception centres will continue operating for up to ten years at a cost of £700million. Pictured: Migrants carrying a boat on their shoulders last year

Currently the asylum system is costing £4billion a year, including £8million a day to house more than 50,000 irregular migrants in hotels. Pictured: Migrants pictured in Dover, Kent last month

Ministers anticipate small-boat arrivals could continue for up to a decade

It said: ‘The Government estimates that if illegal immigration goes unaddressed, the costs of asylum accommodation alone could increase to £32million per day by 2026. 

‘The Government therefore needs to use all the powers at its disposal to prevent and deter unlawful migration.’ 

Currently the asylum system is costing £4billion a year, including £8million a day to house more than 50,000 irregular migrants in hotels. 

It came as MPs heard the costs of the Rwanda scheme are likely to rise as a result of measures laid out in new legislation published last week. 

Last week the Mail revealed an extra £100million payment to the east African nation was signed off this year. 

It came on top of previous sums totalling £140million, with another £50million to be handed over in April. 

In March, it was announced Britain would give £478million to the French to step up beach patrols.

Source: Read Full Article