IMMIGRATION Minister Robert Jenrick has declined to disclose how much a new anti-migration deal with Turkey will cost the taxpayer.
He told GB News: “Well, we are giving some funding to Turkey. You would expect that because we’re going to be working closely with them, but it’s not primarily about money.
“This is mainly about the share of intelligence and information between our world-leading police and security services and their law enforcement authorities so that if we find out something important that can be acted upon swiftly, and vice versa.
“And also the sharing of latest technology and people so that at the critical border between Turkey and Bulgaria, we are strengthening our relationship there as well as in the big towns and cities of Turkey as well.
“So it’s a win-win for both countries and reflects the fact that the UK wants to be the partner of choice to any country in Europe or beyond, which shares our determination to tackle this issue.”
In an interview during Breakfast with Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello, he was pressed again on how much the scheme would cost and was told voters will want to see “a return on the investment”.
He told Ellie: “No, I completely understand that view and people want us to treat their taxpayers’ money with great care. But what we are doing is spending some money on this issue.
“I’m not able to say how much this morning, but what we are funding with Turkey is real investment in core law enforcement capability with a centre of excellence whereby Turkish national police will be training up to tackle this issue in Turkey.
“I’m working very closely with the National Crime Agency, police and Border Force here in the United Kingdom. So this is serious hard edge stuff, which is going to make a difference to smashing the gangs seizing disrupting the flow of the engines and the boats into Europe, which I hope will make a real material impact.”
He added: “It reflects…the work that we’re doing in France and Belgium with work further upstream. And it’s not just about Turkey.
“I’ve also been visiting Tunisia, Algeria, Italy, other countries which are really on the front line of Europe’s migration crisis and trying to build the best possible diplomatic relations with those countries and seeing how we can partner with them to tackle this issue together.”
