Paying failed asylum seekers to leave is value for money, says Mahmood

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said she is prepared to consider a substantial rise in payments to failed asylum seekers in order to convince them to leave the country voluntarily. This was often better value for money for the taxpayer than the cost of living in the country, according to her. Mahmood has also defended her decision to begin deporting families who have been refused for asylum, even though this includes children. The plans are part of a larger reform of the UK's asylum system, which was announced in Parliament this week and has sparked outrage from some Labour MPs and peers alike.

Mahmood was asked whether paying failed asylum seekers to leave was the right thing to do with taxpayer money, according to BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking with Nick Robinson. Even if sums rise over the new upper limit, she said,

looking after failed asylum seekers currently cost the taxpayer £30,000 per person, per year, making cash payments

value for money.

I've already asked my officials to pilot a tiny program where we have more functionality than we do, just to see how it improves behavior,

she said.

I haven't landed on the full amount of the debt involved, but I'm willing to consider a significant increase on what we currently pay, and that's because of the fact that we don't have It's often a better value for money for the taxpayer.

I know it stays in the craw of many people and they don't like it," many people say, but it's still work, it does work, and a voluntary return is often the fastest way to get people back to their home country as quickly as possible.

A change in the government's policies, which have been contentious among some back-bench Labour MPs, is a change in our commitment to excluding families with children. The government does not currently prioritize deporting families who have been rejected for asylum, but if they opt not to leave the UK voluntarily, they could be forcibly barred. On Tuesday, Labour peer Lord Dubs, who came to the United Kingdom from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia on the Kindertransport, told BBC Radio 4's Today show that Mahmood was weaponizing children and should reconsider.

I always listen closely to what he says, but on this occasion, I disagree.

I will never use children as a weapon,

Mahmood said she had a responsibility to avoid putting children on board crowded little boats crossing the Channel.

There is a perverse compulsion there to fly with your children, which may put your children in jeopardy,

she said. We would never ever exclude a family with children if they have failed in their investigation.

While acknowledging that specific questions regarding the removal of children that needed careful consideration, Mahmood explained that in addition, she must be fair to British taxpayers who are footing the bill.It's correct that if you're a failed asylum seeker, the fact that you have a child under the age of 18 is not a reason why you should keep in supported asylum accommodation forever more.

Another issue that has sparked fear is reports that asylum seekers could be stripped of their jewellery at the border as they arrive. According to Mahmood, asylum seekers would not have any items of sentimental value, such as wedding rings, taken away. However, she said that people with a

flashy Rolexwatch, e-bike, car, or other high-value assetsshould play a role

in the cost of their stay. She gave the example of an asylum seeker who was receiving £800 a month by his family and had bought an Audi. Mahmood said,

He was not obligated under any of our laws to pay for the cost of his asylum.

Now most British residents must pay the bill for the use of the benefit scheme, and if they have assets that can be considered when looking for social security.

I'm trying to make that change work is to place asylum seekers on the same playing field as British citizens.

On BBC Radio 4 at 17:30 GMT on Saturday or onBBC Sounds, listen to the complete interview with Shabana Mahmood.

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