New UK Border Force

[Dedworth]

But who is going to pay the cost of keeping them in custody for maybe up to a year? Should it be the tax payer or should it be paid for by the UKBA? I am sure there would be lots of unhappy people on here (though not me personally...) if they announced that they were doubling the price of visas to keep more illegal immigrants in custody.

As far as I'm aware the UKBA hasn't been privatised and is part of the Home Office so it is all paid for by the taxpayer

[darren-b]

As far as I'm aware the UKBA hasn't been privatised and is part of the Home Office so it is all paid for by the taxpayer

Not all of it - the UKBA receives some funding from the visa fees. The jusification for the increased cost in visas in recent years has been to pay for the increased cost of securing the UK borders.

Admittedly some of the visas are paid for by the British spouse (a UK taxpayer..) so technically in some cases it is really a tax on marrying a non-EU citizen.

[KeithD]

Not all of it - the UKBA receives some funding from the visa fees. The jusification for the increased cost in visas in recent years has been to pay for the increased cost of securing the UK borders.

Every time I visit the USA I pay a $5 premium to cover border security charges, that's fine with me, even though it is a tax

[somebody]

Every time I visit the USA I pay a $5 premium to cover border security charges, that's fine with me, even though it is a tax

Never seen an ilegal in the USA so must be working

[KeithD]

Never seen an ilegal in the USA so must be working

All the whites are illegal.

[somebody]

All the whites are illegal.

Indeed

[IainBusby]

All the whites are illegal.

That's true, the native indians should round them all up and send them back where they came from........... oops, what am I saying, most of them came from here.

[somebody]

That's true, the native indians should round them all up and send them back where they came from........... oops, what am I saying, most of them came from here.

Coventry The West Orchards Shopping mall should be a tad busy

[darren-b]

Not all of it - the UKBA receives some funding from the visa fees. The jusification for the increased cost in visas in recent years has been to pay for the increased cost of securing the UK borders.

Admittedly some of the visas are paid for by the British spouse (a UK taxpayer..) so technically in some cases it is really a tax on marrying a non-EU citizen.

Just to back up my comment

http://services.parliament.uk/hansar...s/part011.html

"For 2009-10, we will spend about £2.2 billion on securing our borders and managing the immigration system. There is widespread agreement with the Government’s policy that those who benefit from the services should contribute towards the cost of the system. In total, about 30 per cent of the costs of securing our borders and managing the system are recovered through charging for applications and services. The remaining costs are met by the UK taxpayer."

[Dedworth]

Just to back up my comment

http://services.parliament.uk/hansar...s/part011.html

"For 2009-10, we will spend about £2.2 billion on securing our borders and managing the immigration system. There is widespread agreement with the Government’s policy that those who benefit from the services should contribute towards the cost of the system. In total, about 30 per cent of the costs of securing our borders and managing the system are recovered through charging for applications and services. The remaining costs are met by the UK taxpayer."

I wonder who this "widespread agreement" is from ? A Labour "focus group" perhaps ?

I've no problem with paying my taxes towards services that the whole country benefits from and to this end I would like to see massive investment made in both the UKBA and provision of huge detention camps to hold those caught here illegally. These camps should be austere with no luxuries of any kind and the regime hard but fair..........word would soon filter out to the would be male wife abandoning asylum seekers camped out in Calais etc that the UK was no longer a soft touch and they would soon turn their energies to seeking asylum elsewhere.