Home Office overspends billions on asylum and immigration due to ‘woeful budgeting’

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Home Office has repeatedly spent over its budget for asylum and border operations, averaging an estimated £2.6bn each year, according to a fiscal watchdog. Max Warner, Research Economist at IFS and an author of the briefing, said: “The way in which the Home Office and Treasury have budgeted for asylum costs leaves a lot to be desired. “The fact that the Home Office has spent £7.6 billion more than initially budgeted on asylum, border, visa and passport operations over the past three years is testament to that. That would also leave the Treasury’s contingency Reserve for genuine emergencies, rather than for spending that the government knows will occur but does not want to budget for.” A Home Office spokesperson said: “This government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, fairly, and in the interest of taxpayers.