Rwanda scheme: PAC quizzes Home Office ahead of cross-govt working evidence session
The Public Accounts Committee takes evidence from the Permanent Secretary of the Home Office, Sir Matthew Rycroft KCMG CBE, on payments made to the Rwandan Government as part of the UK-Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership.
Meeting details
The evidence session follows Sir Matthew’s 7 December letter disclosing that a further payment of £100m has been made to the Government of Rwanda as part of the Economic Transformation and Integration Fund. The lack of notice and timing of Sir Matthew’s disclosure showed an extreme lack of respect for both committees.
PAC Chair Dame Meg Hillier MP and Home Affairs Committee Chair Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP jointly wrote to Sir Matthew on 8 December expressing surprise and disappointment at his refusal to answer questions from both Select Committees on the scheme at recent hearings, noting that this most recent disclosure still does not provide sufficient information about the money spent on this scheme so far.
The UK Government paid Rwanda £140m in the financial year 2022-23 and an additional £50 million will be paid to Rwanda in 2024-25.
This session will then be followed by an evidence session on the theme of cross-government working. Based on a National Audit Office investigation into the topic, the Committee will question senior officials including from the Cabinet Office and the Treasury.
The inquiry will explore what effective cross-government looks like, good practice examples, and what are some of the barriers to cross-government working.