Cost of resettling Afghans could be £2.5bn in 10 years

resettLING afghans who have fled the taliban could cost the uK £2.5billion, a leaked Government document has revealed.

the treasury has been told by officials it must ‘urgently’ find more money so town halls can home thousands of refugees.

a Whitehall paper seen by the BBC and discussed by ministers on Wednesday states 7,000 arrivals are expected in the current financial year under the afghan relocations and assistance Policy for those who have worked with the uK government.

another 10,000 a year are expected under other resettlement schemes. the document recommends that local authorities should be given £20,520 per person split over three years, plus funding for education and £3,200 for healthcare.

It says the costs of the scheme are likely to reach £975million by 2024-25 and £2.5billion in a decade – but only £400million has been committed.

Council leaders across the country have been asked to take in refugees but dozens are reluctant to until they know more details. some say they do not have sufficient accommodation, particularly as they already have long waiting lists for social housing and are still looking for homes for afghan interpreters they took in earlier this year.

Last night Labour’s home affairs spokesman, Nick thomas-symonds, said: ‘Councils across the country want to do the right thing, so it’s deeply worrying that the uK Government is failing to step up and play its role in providing national coordination, leadership and support.’ a Home Office spokesman said it is establishing a bespoke scheme to provide protection for afghan citizens identified most at risk. they added: ‘We will work with local government to develop the scheme and its funding.’