The Home Office is facing serious questions about its operational efficiency after it emerged that only one staff member is actively working on returning asylum seekers to Rwanda, despite having twelve officials assigned to the controversial policy.
A Team of Twelve, But Only One Working
Internal documents obtained by the Daily Mail reveal a startling disparity between staffing numbers and actual productivity within the department responsible for implementing the government's flagship Rwanda scheme. While twelve civil servants are officially tasked with managing the returns process, just a solitary caseworker is currently handling live cases.
Mounting Questions Over Resource Allocation
The revelation has sparked concerns about value for taxpayers' money and the Home Office's ability to deliver on its immigration promises. Critics are demanding answers about what the other eleven staff members are doing if only one person is processing returns.
The staffing breakdown shows:
- 12 officials assigned to Rwanda returns policy
- Only 1 caseworker actively processing cases
- Multiple senior positions including policy advisors
- Significant salary costs for largely inactive team
Government's Flagship Policy Under Scrutiny
This staffing situation emerges as the government continues to champion its Rwanda partnership as a solution to the small boats crisis. The scheme, which has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds already, faces renewed scrutiny over its practical implementation.
A Home Office spokesperson defended the arrangement, stating that the team requires various specialists to handle different aspects of the complex policy. However, immigration experts question whether the current staffing model represents efficient use of public funds.
Broader Implications for Immigration System
The revelation comes amid ongoing challenges within the UK's immigration system, including record-high asylum backlogs and continued small boat crossings. Opposition parties have seized on the information as evidence of government mismanagement.
With the Rwanda policy remaining central to the government's immigration strategy, questions about the Home Office's operational effectiveness are likely to intensify in Parliament and beyond.
