I expect Mr Woolas misspoke...

Based on this statement from Phil Woolas last April:

Our estimate is £1.4 billion, and I remind the House that that would come from the defence budget.

I sent a Freedom of Information request to see what the impact of Gurkha Settlement Rights had been on the Defence budget after just over a year.

I got the response today:

The figure of £1.4 billion was the result of cross Government consultation on the potential financial cost to the UK of allowing all former Gurkhas to settle here.  It covered pension benefits, tax credits, child benefit costs, NHS costs and education costs.  None of these costs are covered by the defence budget.

The only impact on the Defence budget has been £20,000 per year to set up and run the Settlement Office in Kathmandu

One area of expenditure that does fall to the defence budget is the cost of setting up and running an office in Kathmandu in order to provide free help and advice with completing the visa application form, obtaining the necessary supporting documents and generally helping ex-Gurkhas to make an informed choice about whether life in the UK is for them.  The cost of setting up and staffing the Settlement Office amounted to £20,000 in financial year 2009/2010 and a similar budget has been earmarked for the current year.  The office has dealt with almost 10,000 visits since opening in October 2009.

Not quite £1.4 billion out of Defence then Mr Woolas...

What's the point in the UK Borders Agency?

According to their website: 

The UK Border Agency is responsible for securing the UK border and controlling migration in the UK. We manage border control for the UK, enforcing immigration and customs regulations. We also consider applications for permission to enter or stay in the UK, and for citizenship and asylum.

OK...

How exactly do they accomplish controlling migration and managing border control without knowing who has come in to the country or who has gone out?

Are these the non-jobs that are to be cut?

Nope.  They are people who need to be allowed to do their jobs. 


Without knowing these basic details not only do the government have difficulty knowing what services need to be provided but also it makes it harder to accurately counter Mailesque claims of a swamped country.  


Of course, the Lib Dem policy for regional work permits could be a major help in making sure people moving to the country end up in areas that can support them.