Staggering cost of detaining and accommodating migrants under controversial illegal migration bill revealed

More than 250,000 people, including up to 45,000 children, could have their asylum claims deemed inadmissible, a charity says

Detaining and accommodating people under the Illegal Migration Bill could cost £9 billion across three years, a charity has said (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire)

The cost of detaining and accommodating people under the government’s controversial plans to tackle Channel crossings could amount to more than £9bn in the first three years, according to a refugee charity.

More than 250,000 people, including up to 45,000 children, could have their asylum claims deemed inadmissible under the Illegal Migration Bill in that time, the Refugee Council said.

The charity said its policy experts came up with the estimates as part of an impact assessment of the consequences of the first three years of the Bill, assuming it comes into force on 7 November, six months after it was introduced in Parliament.