A couple of interesting snippets from the UK Autumn Spending Review

[ThaiVisaExpress]

A couple of snippets from the UK Autumn Spending Review. One does mention "targeted visa fee increases" !

"resource savings of 5% by 2019-20 through a fully self-funded borders and immigration system and total reductions of 30% in the department’s administration budget compared to 2015-16"

"Around £600 million of overall border, immigration and citizenship system costs are currently funded by the Exchequer (in addition to customs and asylum support costs). By investing in streamlined and automated processes, saving time for immigration officials and border officers, this funding requirement will be more than halved. For example, the government will invest over £250 million to enable passports and visas to be processed online. The remainder will be funded through targeted visa fee increases, which will remove the burden on the UK taxpayer while ensuring the UK remains a competitive place for work, travel and study internationally. At the same time, new investments such as £130 million more for automated passport E-gates, watch-list and intelligence technology, will tighten security while keeping queuing times to a minimum."

Tony M

[theoldgit]

Did you also read the report from the National Audit Office, Tony?

The report was regarding the cash lost as a result of the e-borders scheme (fiasco), they reported that the failed scheme has cost £830m so far and is likely to cost a further £219m by March 2019, that money will need to be clawed back somehow.

You will recall that e-borders was going to be the solution to many of the problems facing the Immigration Service, as it was called then, the spending was ring fenced and protected and they were just about the only Directorate that were allowed to recruit during the various recruitment freezes.

[dabhand]

Did you also read the report from the National Audit Office, Tony?

The report was regarding the cash lost as a result of the e-borders scheme (fiasco), they reported that the failed scheme has cost £830m so far and is likely to cost a further £219m by March 2019, that money will need to be clawed back somehow.

You will recall that e-borders was going to be the solution to many of the problems facing the Immigration Service, as it was called then, the spending was ring fenced and protected and they were just about the only Directorate that were allowed to recruit during the various recruitment freezes.

Brings back memories of the failed NHS IT scheme that reportedly cost the UK taxpayers around £10billion!!

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/18/nhs-records-system-10bn

Seems that the only thing you can guarantee on these proposed government IT schemes is that they will be heavily over budget with a very good chance of being abandoned with no apparent accountability of those involved.

The 'customer' ends up paying, either via increased fees or service reductions due to lower budgets with a backstop of the UK taxpayer picking up the tab.

[Basil B]

Did you also read the report from the National Audit Office, Tony?

The report was regarding the cash lost as a result of the e-borders scheme (fiasco), they reported that the failed scheme has cost £830m so far and is likely to cost a further £219m by March 2019, that money will need to be clawed back somehow.

You will recall that e-borders was going to be the solution to many of the problems facing the Immigration Service, as it was called then, the spending was ring fenced and protected and they were just about the only Directorate that were allowed to recruit during the various recruitment freezes.

The Home Office has been criticised for failing to complete a project to boost UK border security - despite spending at least £830 million on it.

The e-borders scheme was meant to collect and analyse data on everyone travelling to and from the UK before they arrive at ports and airports.

But the National Audit Office says checks remain "highly manual and inefficient", and IT systems outdated.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34988913

Beats me how the Rt Honourable Member for Maiden still has a job in the government???

[Tony M]

Did you also read the report from the National Audit Office, Tony?

The report was regarding the cash lost as a result of the e-borders scheme (fiasco), they reported that the failed scheme has cost £830m so far and is likely to cost a further £219m by March 2019, that money will need to be clawed back somehow.

You will recall that e-borders was going to be the solution to many of the problems facing the Immigration Service, as it was called then, the spending was ring fenced and protected and they were just about the only Directorate that were allowed to recruit during the various recruitment freezes.

Scandalous ! How do they keep getting away with it ?