1. The total budget for immigration control in 2014/15 was £1.8 billion[1]. This is around 0.25% of the total government expenditure of £700 billion.

2. Around £1 billion of the £1.8 billion comes from the fee income associated with visa applications with a further £800 million coming from the Treasury.

3. Within the Home Office immigration control is divided into three directorates. UK Visas and Immigration decide on applications to visit and stay in the UK, including asylum applications. Border Force secure the UK border, through immigration and customs controls. Immigration Enforcement enforce the law for those who break immigration rules. This includes the detention and removal of immigration offenders from the UK.

4. The directorates’ budgets and staff numbers are listed below

Directorate Budget Staff Numbers UK Visas and Immigration £800 million (of which £310 million is spent on asylum) 8,000 Border Force £600 million 7,500 Enforcement £440 million 4,700

5 January, 2015