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<p>As I said to the House at Committee Stage for the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and
Immigration) Bill on 19 February, Noble Lords will be aware that we have provided
Rwanda with £220 million as part of the economic transformation fund and £20 million
as an advance credit to pay for operational costs in advance of flights commencing.
The spend on the MEDP with Rwanda so far is £240 million.</p><p>We anticipate providing
another £50 million in the next financial year. This is not new but follows the same
arrangement from 2022.</p><p>Rwanda did not ask for money to sign the treaty, nor
did we offer it. However, it is right and proper that there is funding to reflect
the additional costs in the future. The Government are already committed to disclosing
further payments made as part of the economic transformation fund and the per-person
relocation costs as part of the department’s annual accounts in the normal way.</p><p>During
the debate, I committed to write to the Noble Lord Purvis on this matter, and the
letter will be published in the House library in due course.</p>
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