1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,639 Speaker 1: And right now Gavin Gray in the UK for US Kevin, 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: good morning, good evening to you. The government accused THEA 3 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: of failing to keep its election promises. This is over 4 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: the amount spent on the asylum seekers. 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 2: Yes, it's down, but it's down not very much. Ryan. 6 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 2: So in total, the bill being spent on hotels to 7 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 2: How's migrants last year was four point four billion New 8 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 2: Zealand dollars, down from four point six billion the year before. 9 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 2: It is said that there are thirty two thousand asylum 10 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,480 Speaker 2: seekers in hotels in the UK. The money is coming 11 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 2: out of the overseas development budget, so money that should 12 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 2: be going to help the poorest people around the world 13 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 2: is instead being used to How's migrants who have come 14 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 2: to the UK. It really is unsustainable. I think plenty 15 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 2: of people are thinking. But here's the other thing. Because 16 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 2: the country's not losing any money, people are also beginning 17 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 2: to wonder if ministers are really serious about tackling this 18 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 2: injustice in that this money would be saving lives elsewhere 19 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: around the globe as a to comfort for those who 20 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 2: have come here illegally and are applying for sylum It's 21 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 2: a very tricky issue. No government's got a grip on it, 22 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 2: but this hotel bill seems to go on and on 23 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 2: and on. 24 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: Meanwhile, we've got arrests up for illegal migrants. 25 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 2: Yes, this the government has improved on since they came 26 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 2: into parent July of last year, in that they have 27 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 2: toughened up quite considerably the fines and penalties to employers 28 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 2: who do carry on employing migrants who are working here illegally. Now, 29 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 2: the problem is for those who are in those hotels 30 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 2: we just described Ryan and they are allowed to go 31 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 2: out and about and do what they want. They're given 32 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 2: a small amount of money each day, but they are 33 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: not allowed to work. And plenty of people think, well, 34 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 2: they should be allowed to work. And so we've heard 35 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: there's a fifty one percent rise on the number of 36 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 2: people arrested on suspicion of working illegally in the UK. 37 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 2: That's a significant rise, and it is said that they 38 00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 2: have managed to thirty thousand people in total who have 39 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 2: no right to be in the UK have now been 40 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 2: returned to their home countries according to the Home Office. 41 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 2: So this is a more positive story. But then you 42 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 2: get down to the detail and footage showing on video 43 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 2: shows the moment, thirty six people were arrested on one 44 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 2: construction site. Nine others arrested illegally using delivery drivers. The 45 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: list goes on and on, and the question is how 46 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: can the government crack down further on that? 47 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: Thank you very much, Kevin Gavin Gray are UK europe correspondent. 48 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, Listen live 49 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: to news Talks it'd be from five am weekdays, or 50 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.