Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered an urgent investigation into the use of taxis to transport asylum seekers from their hotels to appointments. The review follows a BBC investigation revealing asylum seekers were travelling long distances by taxi, including to doctors' appointments, at costs of hundreds of pounds per journey.
The findings have raised serious concerns about value for money in the asylum system. The investigation has prompted mounting questions about both the cost and necessity of these taxi journeys.
Government response to spending concerns
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said people will "quite rightly ask why is that necessary" when questioned about the BBC investigation. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he acknowledged the public interest in the story.
McFadden added: "I'm not surprised that that was a feature that caught people's eye, and the Home Office are looking at that and I think they should look at it." The Cabinet minister said: "I think a lot of your listeners will quite rightly ask, why should people be taken around in taxis?"
Spending records and contracts
The BBC's Freedom of Information request revealed the Home Office does not maintain records of total spending on taxi travel for asylum seekers. However, it emerged that taxi rates are set through contracts calculated on a per person per mile basis, rather than using standard taxi meters.
A Home Office spokeswoman confirmed the urgency of the review, stating: "The Home Secretary has asked the department to urgently look into the use of taxis to transfer asylum seekers."
Sources used: "BBC" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
