First, the current rules are likely to be leading to higher government expenditure. The future income of the spouse, if they worked in the UK, is not taken into account when deciding if a visa is granted or not, despite the fact they could be paying taxes and improving household incomes. The policy effectively enforces single parenthood; such families are more likely to be net consumers of public welfare. Recent research by Middlesex University shows that, contrary to forecasts from the Home Office of significant savings, the minimum income threshold is likely to be leading to losses in government revenue of nearly £850 million over 10 years, thanks to an estimated 17,800 spouses being denied entry to the UK each year and thus not working and paying taxes here.