The Home Office has come under fire after an investigation revealed it spent a staggering £5.7 million on private taxi services to transport asylum seekers between temporary accommodation hotels.
According to data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, the department authorised payments for nearly 60,000 individual taxi journeys over a recent two-year period. The figures highlight the sprawling and costly nature of the UK's system for housing asylum seekers.
Sky-High Costs for Single Journeys
Some of the individual fares were eye-wateringly high. The most expensive single trip cost the taxpayer £2,398, while another journey came in at £2,340. A third trip, covering a distance of 166 miles, cost £1,950.
These costs far exceed what a member of the public would pay for a similar journey, raising serious questions about the value for money achieved by the Home Office.
A System Under Strain
The reliance on taxis is a symptom of a wider issue. With the asylum system overwhelmed, the government has been forced to house tens of thousands of people in hundreds of hotels across the country at a daily cost of millions.
This practice of 'hotel hopping' often necessitates transport for individuals and families when spaces become available in different locations, sometimes at very short notice.
Political and Public Backlash
The revelation has sparked anger from politicians and taxpayer groups. Critics argue the funds would be better spent on processing claims faster and reducing the backlog, which would ultimately lower the reliance on expensive temporary accommodation.
A Home Office spokesman stated: 'The use of hotels is unacceptable and we are working to end the use of asylum hotels altogether. This includes moving asylum seekers to alternative, more cost-effective accommodation.'
However, with the bill for taxi services alone running into the millions, pressure is mounting on the government to find a more efficient and financially responsible solution to the asylum accommodation crisis.
