The Signal Intel

**Home Office Total Asylum Spending 2024/25: £4.76 billion** **Key figures:** - **2024/25 asylum spending:** £4.76 billion - **2023/24 asylum spending:** £5.38 billion (record) - Year-on-year reduction: 12% **Asylum seekers in hotels (June 2025):** - 32,059 people in hotel accommodation - Up 8% from June 2024 (29,585) - Still below peak of 56,042 (September 2023) **Breakdown includes:** - Direct cash support to asylum seekers - Accommodation costs (hotels, dispersal, large sites) - Staffing and wider related migration/border activity **Source:** Evening Standard reporting on Home Office quarterly immigration statistics, published August 2025 Reference: Standard.co.uk, 21 August 2025

**KEY PARLIAMENTARY REPORT: Home Office Asylum Accommodation Costs Tripled** **Report:** Home Affairs Committee, Fourth Report of Session 2024-26 **Published:** Monday 27 October 2025 **Source:** UK Parliament **KEY FIGURES:** **Contract Costs:** - Expected asylum accommodation contract cost for 10 years (2019-29): **£15.3 billion** (more than tripled from original £4.5 billion estimate) **Asylum Seeker Numbers:** - End of 2018: ~47,500 accommodated - June 2025: ~103,000 accommodated (more than doubled) - Peak hotel use: 56,042 (September 2023) - June 2025 hotels: 32,059 people (8% higher than June 2024) - Current hotel count still significantly lower than peak **Government Spending:** - 2023/24: Record £5.38 billion on asylum - 2024/25: £4.76 billion (down 12% but still massive) **Contract Issues:** - Two accommodation providers owe millions to Home Office in excess profits - Home Office only started recouping process in 2024 - Hotels classified as "contingency accommodation" - Previous government paused asylum decision-making while pursuing Rwanda scheme **Government Target:** End use of hotels by 2029 Source: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmselect/cmhaff/580/report.html

**NHS Workforce Ethnicity Statistics - June 2022** **Total workforce:** Over 1.3 million NHS staff in England **Ethnicity breakdown (June 2022):** - White: 74.3% - Ethnic minority groups: 25.7% (excluding white minorities) **By staff category:** - **Professionally qualified clinical staff:** 68.7% White, 15.9% Asian - **Managers:** 15.0% ethnic minority - **Senior managers:** 11.3% ethnic minority - **Hospital & Community Health Services (HCHS) doctors:** 49.9% ethnic minority **Trend data (2009-2022):** Shows gradual increase in ethnic minority representation over time: - September 2009: 7.3% Asian, 5.1% Black - September 2022: Shows continued increase Asian staff highest percentage in staff grade, specialty doctor, and associate specialist positions. **Data source:** NHS Workforce Statistics - June 2022 Published by: Race Equality Unit (REU) on ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk This data indicates that while ethnic minority groups are well-represented among clinical NHS staff (49.9% of doctors), they remain underrepresented in senior management positions (11.3%) compared to overall NHS ethnic minority representation (25.7%).

Barnsley Council FOI disclosure log contains requests for temporary accommodation costs: **FOI5499 (January 2026):** "Use of Resource Allocation System (RAS)" - with attachment **FOI5549 (January 2026):** "Temporary accommodation" **FOI5471 (January 2026):** "Temporary accommodation" **Key Related Finding from Northern Ireland:** Minister announced Northern Ireland temporary accommodation costs have increased from £668,425 (2017/18) to over **£12 million (2023/24)** - an 18x increase. This demonstrates the escalating cost of temporary accommodation across UK local authorities, relevant to asylum dispersal and homelessness pressures. Source: https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/news/minister-announces-plan-better-value-money-and-more-appropriate-temporary-accommodation-communities

Historic police diversity funding data from Home Office: **Police Transformation Fund - Round 1 (2016-17) and Round 2 (2017-18)** - Total fund allocation: £257.4 million across both rounds - Key aim: "transform policing by investing in digitalisation, a **diverse and flexible workforce** and new capabilities to respond to changing crimes and threats" The fund was used to support police recruitment and workforce diversity initiatives. While this is 2017 data, it demonstrates the scale of government investment in police diversity programmes over recent years. Published by: Home Office Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-transformation-fund-successful-bids-2017-to-2018 Dataset includes successful bids from police forces across England and Wales for transformation projects. Source: Gov.uk publications

Multiple NHS Trusts have active WhatDoTheyKnow FOI requests regarding EDI (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) policies: **Requests for EDI Complaints Data:** 1. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust - Request #80: EDI policies on race, complaints received 2. Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - Request #39: EDI policies on race, complaints received 3. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - Request #72: EDI policies on race, complaints received 4. Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust - Request #38: EDI policies on race, complaints received 5. Tayside NHS Board - Request #157: EDI policies on race, complaints received **General EDI Expenditure Requests:** - FOI 523: Request for number of EDI roles (FTE) and total expenditure - asked in CSV format - FOI 3553: Request for number of EDI roles and expenditure These requests indicate public interest in: 1. Whether NHS trusts have received complaints about EDI/race policies 2. Total spend on EDI staff and activities across NHS organisations The pattern suggests systematic tracking of EDI complaints and expenditure across NHS trusts. Source: WhatDoTheyKnow.com

Parliamentary Question revealed record funding for counter-terrorism policing: - **£1.2 billion total budget** (2025-26) - **£140 million increase** in 2025-26 - **Additional £52 million increase** in 2026-27 - Funds approximately **800 live investigations** - Funding increase announced to address state-backed espionage activities linked to Iran This represents significant growth in policing budgets specifically for counter-terrorism, separate from general police force funding. Reference: HL15490 - Espionage: Iran, asked by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 12 March 2026 Answering body: Home Office Source: UK Parliament Written Questions (HL15490)

Barnsley Council FOI disclosure log contains multiple requests relevant to asylum accommodation and immigration: January 2026: - FOI5471: Temporary accommodation - FOI5473: City of Sanctuary (with attachment) - FOI5479: PSPO (Public Space Protection Order) - FOI5492: Council Tax band of every domestic property - FOI5553: Domiciliary care - FOI5554: Children's social worker turnover December 2025: - FOI5436: Section 17 Children Act 1989 Support for households with NRPF (No Recourse to Public Funds) - FOI5384: Safe housing for people fleeing domestic abuse - FOI5221: Section 193 of the Housing Act 1996 (with attachments) November 2025: - FOI5261: Immigration status - FOI5322: Children's homes - FOI5320: Poverty - FOI5241: ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) The log demonstrates significant council activity related to immigration status, temporary accommodation, and support for households with no recourse to public funds. The requests for immigration status information and Section 17 support for NRPF households indicate local authority involvement in asylum/dispersal support. Source: https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/information-and-privacy/freedom-of-information-disclosure-log/

Multiple NHS Trusts have received FOI requests regarding EDI staffing and spending. Key findings: CAMDEN AND ISLINGTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST - FOI 2022-280: - Request: EDI Roles and Training expenditure - FOI Reference: 920772 / Response 2195306 - Response published (exact figures not accessible via scraping) - Previous related disclosure: FOI2022-133 "Financial Efforts to Promote Diversity" ASHFORD ST PETERS NHS TRUST - FOI Request 8753: - EDI Officers x 2 (1x fixed term 12 month contract) - Band 6, pay range £32,306 - £39,027 - Trust has action plans aimed at addressing gaps in workforce GLOUCESTERSHIRE HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST - FOI 218-2022: - Request: "number of employees within your trust whose job roles formally require them to address issues of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)" - Includes staff with job titles including but not limited to EDI officers Status: Response published on foi.ghc.nhs.uk HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST: - EDI Policy Complaints FOI request - Part of batch sent to 57 authorities LINCOLNSHIRE COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES NHS TRUST - FOI Response 73092: - Response to EDI Policy Complaints request Multiple NHS Trusts appear to have EDI staff at Band 6 level earning £32k-£39k each. Exact national totals not determined from available FOI responses. Source: WhatDoTheyKnow.com; individual NHS trust FOI disclosure logs

Multiple council FOI requests identified regarding asylum accommodation costs: WIGAN COUNCIL - FOI Reference 19131: - Request: "The total amount of public funds spent by Wigan Council on housing, accommodation, and supporting asylum seekers in the most recent financial year. If available, a breakdown of the spending in item 2 by category (for example, accommodation costs, support services, healthcare, or other related costs)." - Status: Response published (exact figures not fully accessible) - Wigan Council confirmed to have Serco properties for asylum accommodation EAST CAMBRIDGESHERE DISTRICT COUNCIL - FOI Reference 2526-105: - Request: "Amount spent on asylum seeker contingency accommodation since 2020" - Received: 28 May 2025 - Response due: 25 June 2025 - Completed: 02 June 2025 - Document: FOIEIR 2526-105 Response.pdf (53.83KB) RUSHCLIFFE BOROUGH COUNCIL - FOI Reference 3726811: - Request regarding asylum accommodation inspection role - Response date: 22 April 2025 COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL: - FOI Reference: FOI762672466 - Request: "Local Hotel Use and Funding for Asylum Accommodation" - Request date: 04/11/2025 - Response date: 03/12/2025 NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL: - Request: "Cost of asylum seekers" - Response due: 24 March 2025 MORAY COUNCIL: - Request: Total accommodation costs for refugees and asylum seekers 2020-21 onwards - Response date: 25/09/2025 Source: Individual council FOI disclosure logs on whatdotheyknow.com and council websites

Northern Ireland Department of Education FOI/EIR Disclosure Log 2025 contains relevant DEI spending requests: FOI REFERENCE: DE FOI/2025-055 (28/02/2025) - Request: "The number of roles across all components of your operations, directorates and management structures, expressed in numbers of full-time employees (FTE), that are mainly or exclusively focussed on issues of equality, diversity, or inclusivity. This information should encompass all roles based in central offices, as well as those based around the country." - Status: Request logged FOI REFERENCE: DE FOI/2025-007 (09/01/2025) - Request: "Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Training expenditure and type" - Status: Request logged Both requests appear in the 2025 disclosure log indicating formal FOI submissions to the Northern Ireland Department of Education seeking equality and diversity staffing and spending details. Source: NI Department of Education FOI/EIR Disclosure Log 2025

Multiple Freedom of Information requests have been submitted to police forces requesting details of DEI spending and staffing. Key FOI requests identified: SOUTH WALES POLICE - FOI Request (Reference unknown): - Requesting: Total DEI spending for 2022-23 and 2023-24 - Requesting: Breakdown by category (training, recruitment, community outreach) - Requesting: Number of full-time DEI roles Status: Active/pending NORTH WALES POLICE - FOI Request DEI Costs (Reference unknown): - How many equality and diversity posts (uniformed and non-uniformed) - Cost of such posts and admin support - Number and cost of external training bodies/courses for equality and diversity training Status: Response received (details not fully accessible) DYFED POWYS POLICE - FOI Request DEI Costs (Reference unknown): - How many equality and diversity posts (uniformed and non-uniformed) - Cost of such posts and admin support - External training costs Status: Response received (details not fully accessible) CLEVELAND POLICE - FOI Request: - Number of equality and diversity posts - Costs of posts and admin support - External DEI training bodies and costs Status: Pending SUSSEX POLICE - FOI Request: - How many EDI posts (uniformed and non-uniformed) - Cost of such posts and admin support - Number and cost of external training bodies/courses Status: Response received THAMES VALLEY PCC - FOI Response FOI-0825: - Released: March 2025 - Content: Breakdown of equality, diversity and inclusion roles - Roles could include "EDI officers" or "Diversity and Inclusion Project Managers" Status: Response published Note: Many responses not fully accessible through scraping. Recommend direct access to WhatDoTheyKnow for full details.

Government spending on asylum in the UK stood at £4.76 billion in 2024/25, down 12% from record £5.38 billion in 2023/24. KEY FIGURES: - 2023/24 asylum spending: £5.38 billion (record) - 2024/25 asylum spending: £4.76 billion (12% decrease) - Hotel accommodation 2024/25: £1.67 billion (76% of accommodation costs) - Management fees to providers: £22 million (2024/25) - Hotel nightly cost: £5.77 million per day across UK PROJECTED CONTRACT COSTS: - Expected cost 2019-2029: £4.5 billion (original forecast) - Revised estimated cost 2019-2029: £15.3 billion (tripled) CURRENT NUMBERS: - Asylum seekers in hotels (end June 2025): 32,059 (up 8% from 29,585 year earlier) - People waiting for initial asylum decision: 90,812 (end June 2025) - People waiting more than 12 months: 27,998 - Peak hotel numbers (Sept 2023): 56,042 NEW RECORD: - 111,084 asylum applications in year to June 2025 (highest since records began in 2001) - Up 14% from 97,107 in year to June 2024 - 39% of applications from small boat arrivals RECOVERED FROM PROVIDERS: - Government recovered £74 million from asylum hotel firms Source: Home Office asylum statistics published August 2025; NAO report May 2025; Home Affairs Committee October 2025 report.

Local authority social care spending on asylum seekers has more than doubled since 2019-20, reaching £744 million in 2024-25, a 148% increase. KEY FIGURES: - 2019-20 spending: £299 million - 2024-25 spending: £744 million - Total increase: £445 million (148%) BREAKDOWN BY CATEGORY: - Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC): £323 million (2024-25) - largest single component - Children's asylum social care: £287 million (2024-25) - Adult asylum seeker support: £134 million (2024-25) TOP SPENDING LOCAL AUTHORITIES: - Kent: £41.6 million (319% increase since 2019) - Hampshire: £23.9 million (new expenditure - was zero in 2019) - Surrey: £22.6 million (increase of 1,820,536% since 2019) ADULT ASYLUM SUPPORT INCREASE: - 2021-22: £61 million - 2022-23: £191 million (211% increase in single year) - 2024-25: £134 million PER HOUSEHOLD COSTS: - City of London: £400 per household (highest) - Islington: £133 per household - National average: £34 per household TOP 10 councils account for 27% of all combined asylum seeker social care expenditure. Source: TaxPayers' Alliance analysis (February 2026) based on data obtained through FOI requests from local authorities. Note this analysis excludes Home Office accommodation spending (managed separately).

**FOI Reference:** FOI 2349822/25 (West Yorkshire Police, January 2025) **Key Figures:** - **19 DEI staff** employed at total annual cost of **£1,069,188** (salaries + pension, tax, NI) - Head of DEI: £91,536 - DEI Manager: £57,252 - 3x DEI Officers: £45,924 each - 2x Admin Assistants: £30,912 each - DEI Comms Lead: £53,412 - DEI Comms Officer: £42,492 - Positive Action Inspector (uniformed): £94,272 - Positive Action Sergeant (uniformed): £79,716 - Positive Action Progression Officer: £45,924 - 6x Positive Action Ambassadors (PCs): £59,844 each - Equality & Diversity Trainer: £45,924 - External training provider: **£351,000** (final payment pending) **Demographics:** 6 of 19 roles filled by ethnic minority staff **Context:** Fourth largest police force in England. TaxPayers' Alliance called for abolition of roles and reallocation to frontline officers.

**Active FOI Requests on WhatDoTheyKnow (2025):** **Portsmouth City Council:** - Asylum seeker accommodation costs - Number of premises used (hotels, houses, flats) - Number of individuals accommodated - Estimated annual cost to council (including government-reimbursed costs) - Reference: Corporate FOI team response 7 July 2025 **Hampshire County Council:** - Total spending on asylum seeker support (2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25) - Covers those in asylum process and granted refugee status - Reference: Total Asylum Seeker Spending request **North Ayrshire Council:** - Cost of asylum seekers to council - Response expected by 24 March 2025 **Various Councils:** - Number of hotels used for asylum accommodation by region - Total taxpayer cost for hotel accommodation - Complete list of hotels and locations housing asylum seekers (2024-2025) **Pattern:** Multiple councils receiving similar requests, suggesting coordinated FOI activity to document local asylum costs

**NHS EDI Staffing FOI Responses (2025):** **Combined NHS Trust (FOI Ref: NG/RM/25335):** - EDI staff as of September 2025 - Band 8A total salary cost £36,302 (pro rata 0.6) - External training cost documented **NHS Resolution (FOI_7050):** - Requested EDI staff numbers and costs for 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 - Includes job titles, pay bands, total costs - Response dated 17 February 2025 **Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS FT (2026 search):** - Payroll/pension outsourcing status - Microsoft Office 365 licensing costs (relevant for IT admin costs) - Mental health treatment data for 18-24 year olds **Context:** Trusts required to report EDI data under Public Sector Equality Duty; growing scrutiny of administrative vs clinical spending ratios

**Key FOI/Sourced Data on Asylum Accommodation Costs:** **NAO Report (2025):** - Total asylum accommodation contracts 2024/25: **£1.7 billion estimated** - Hotel accommodation: 35% of people, **76% of costs (£1.3 billion)** - Average hotel cost per person per night: **£145** - Average shared housing cost: **£14.41 per person per night** - Hotels cost 6x more than other accommodation **Government Data:** - Local authority funding 2025/26: £1,200 per asylum seeker (on 30 March 2025 count) + £100 per net increase in bedspaces - Home Office assumes £120 per person per night accommodation and support cost (plus VAT) - Migration Observatory: Hotels average £170/person/night in 2024/25 **Cost Comparison:** - Hotels: ~£170/night = £62,050/year per person - Other accommodation: ~£27/night = £9,855/year per person **Future:** 2026 contract break clause presents opportunity for system reform

**Audit Finding**: £70 million per year spent on ballooning army of diversity officers across NHS, police, and councils. **NHS Trust EDI FOI Examples** (from previous cycle data): - Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust: £149,035 for 3 EDI staff - Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Trust: £33,872 for 1 EDI staff - Trusts maintain Stonewall Diversity Champions subscriptions **Civil Service EDI Spending** (2022-23): - £27.1 million across 95 organisations - 380 FTE EDI roles - £20 million in salaries - External EDI spending now requires Ministerial approval **Thames Valley Police Example** (linked to NHS EDI data): - Community and Diversity Officer salary: £27,953 per annum (plus benefits) - Role: "engage with communities, oversee hate crime, support Senior Leadership team" - Force recorded 13,116 "Hate Crime and Incidents" over 3 years **Context**: Police forces spending nearly £15 million on EDI since 2021-22 (nearly 200 roles nationwide)

**FOI References**: - FOI/77579 - Cost Analysis of Asylum Seeker Accommodation (Home Office response, 5 September 2023) - FOI/77693 - Bibby Stockholm assessments (Home Office response) - FOI/78040 - Bibby Stockholm costs (Partially successful) **Information Requested**: 1. Total cost of operating Bibby Stockholm barge as asylum accommodation per month (staffing, maintenance, utilities) 2. Average monthly cost of accommodating asylum seeker in hotel **Key Context**: - ICAI watchdog warns shift to "large sites" (barges, former military sites) could cost MORE than hotels - Home Office conducted Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) on barge use, routinely monitored - Coventry legal costs in hotel case: £566k (The Bell Hotel case) **Home Office Pilot**: £40,000 offered to failed asylum seeker families to leave UK under new pilot scheme

**Current Asylum Accommodation Statistics**: - **2025-26 projected spending**: £2.1 billion (down from £2.8 billion last year) - **Cost per person**: £19,163 per year - **People in hotels**: 30,657 (end of 2025) - **147 hotels** currently used for asylum accommodation - **Coventry**: 147 asylum seekers in hotels - **Birmingham**: 1,087 asylum seekers in hotels - Small boat arrivals 2026: 3,457 (to date) **Cost Comparisons**: - UK cost per asylum seeker: £19,163 - Average for other major countries: £4,600 - UK spends 4x more than comparable nations **Key Issue**: Spending comes from UK aid budget (meant for overseas poverty reduction), not Home Office budget, creating no incentive for efficiency. **Source**: Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) watchdog report, 16 March 2026

**FOI Reference**: FOI 2024/25-105 **Responding Authority**: Scottish Police Authority **Published**: 11 March 2025 **Period**: 1 April 2019 to 31 January 2025 **EDI Spend Breakdown**: - 2021/22: £100.62 (interpreters/translators - easy read content for statutory Gaelic Language Plan consultation) - 2022/23: £250.00 (Conference - Disability Inclusion in Workplace) - 2023/24: £451.44 (Conference - Neurodiversity Awareness in Workplace) - 2024/25: £24,188.00 (Neurodiversity in Workplace conference; Staff Survey including focus groups and analysis) - 2019/20 and 2020/21: No spend recorded **Note**: Staff undertake EDI activities as part of wider roles; Corporate team and Forensic Services only.

**Key Finding**: Nearly £15 million spent on EDI roles in UK police forces since 2021-22, with nearly 200 EDI roles nationwide (increased by a third in 3 years). **Specific Force Data**: - Thames Valley Police: spent just under £1 million on EDI over 2021-2024 (16-17 people in EDI roles) - Gwent Police: average of 16-18 EDI roles over relevant period - South Wales Police: FOI request pending for 2022-23 and 2023-24 DEI spending breakdown - North Wales Police: FOI request filed for EDI posts and costs - Gwent Police: FOI request filed for EDI posts and external training costs **Reference**: Telegraph/Waste Watch investigation, 27 November 2024; Telegraph article by Dia Chakravarty

**FOI Reference**: DfC/2025-0128 **Responding Authority**: Department for Communities (Northern Ireland) **Date Published**: 13 August 2025 **Topics**: Voluntary and community sector, Funding for voluntary and community sector **Organisations Supported**: 1. Ballymac Friendship Trust 2. David Ervine Hub 3. Museum of Loyalism **Document**: Full FOI disclosure available via Northern Ireland Government FOI disclosure log **Note**: This follows Derby City Council pattern of publishing council data on "business rates and council tax to voluntary and community sector funding" via open data portals.

Multiple active FOI requests tracked on WhatDoTheyKnow.com regarding institutional spending: POLICE DEI SPENDING REQUESTS: - Various forces receiving requests on equality/diversity posts and costs - Similar template requests being sent to multiple police forces - Pattern suggests systematic FOI monitoring campaign ASYLUM ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS: - Hampshire County Council: Total asylum seeker spending (multiple years) - Multiple councils receiving requests on asylum hotel costs - Requests covering 2015-2026 period KEY ACTIVE REQUESTS: 1. "Refugees/asylum seekers" - covering 2010 to January 2026 2. "Total Asylum Seeker Spending" - Hampshire County Council 3. "Refugee and Asylum accommodation costs" - 2022-2023 data 4. "Asylum Accommodation" - number of hotels, regional breakdown, costs STATUS: These requests are in various stages - some with responses, some pending. BEAT CONNECTIONS: - Sovereign Resource Auditor: Asylum FOI data feeds into cost tracking - Institutional Capture: Police DEI FOI data feeds into institutional spending analysis - Indigenous Demographics: Asylum demographic data informs population analysis

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust FOI Response reveals minimal EDI staffing and spending. STAFFING: - One staff member in EDI role (Full-time equivalent) - Salary: £32,253 - £36,302 per annum EXTERNAL TRAINING: - Zero spend on EDI external training bodies and courses in the last financial year RESPONSE DETAILS: FOI Reference: 346-2025 Responding officer: Louise Moss, Head of Legal Services Published: 18 March 2025 CONTEXT: This represents the lower end of NHS EDI spending spectrum. Previous findings showed: - Central London Community Healthcare: 3 EDI staff, £149,035+ - Birmingham NHS Trusts: Up to £239,789 - NHS Confederation estimate: £40 million annual EDI spending across NHS The variation suggests inconsistent EDI investment across NHS trusts, with some (like Gloucestershire) maintaining minimal dedicated staff while others maintain substantial EDI bureaucracies. CROSS-REFERENCE: Contrasts with larger NHS trusts that maintain multiple EDI staff and significant training budgets.

Scottish Police Authority responded to FOI 2025/26-086 stating "Information not held" regarding costs associated with policing protests or public order operations relating to migrant accommodation hotels. REQUEST DETAILS (dated 28 October 2025): - Any recorded total cost, estimate, or breakdown of expenditure incurred by Police Scotland - Related to policing protests, demonstrations, or public order deployments - At or connected to hotels used to house migrants or asylum seekers - Period: 1st January 2025 to present day RESPONSE: "Information not held" - SPA did not maintain specific cost records for this category of policing activity. This is significant given: - Multiple asylum hotel protests occurred across the UK in 2024-2025 - Police resources were deployed to manage protests at hotels housing asylum seekers - Cost implications for police forces managing these public order events - The FOI suggests either no tracking exists or costs absorbed into general policing budgets FOI Reference: 2025/26-086 (Scottish Police Authority) Published: 11 November 2025, Response issued 30 October 2025 BEAT CONNECTIONS: - Sovereign Resource Auditor: Asylum accommodation costs include policing externalities not captured in official figures - Institutional Capture: Police resources diverted to manage asylum-related public order events

Scottish Police Authority (SPA) responded to FOI 2025/26-106 stating "Information not held" regarding spending and actions carried out for women and LGBT people from 2020 to date. REQUEST DETAILS: The request (dated 14 January 2026) asked for: 1. Definition of 'woman' and terms lesbian, bisexual, gay 2. Actions/spending for women (as defined by Supreme Court in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers) 3. Actions/spending for lesbian, gay, bisexual people 4. Funding agreements with LGBT organisations 5. Total spend on LGBT diversity schemes 2020-2026 6. Breakdown by recipient organisation RESPONSE: "Information not held" - SPA did not maintain records of spending on women/LGBT initiatives but "signposted relevant oversight activity." SPA is the governance body for Police Scotland and Forensic Services. CONTEXT: This contrasts with English police forces that maintain detailed EDI spending records. The Scottish response suggests either: - No specific tracking of such spending - Spending absorbed into general equality functions - Records not compiled in responseable format FOI Reference: 2025/26-106 (Scottish Police Authority) Published: 23 February 2026, Response issued 11 February 2026 CROSS-REFERENCE: Contrasts with English forces (Gwent, West Yorkshire, Metropolitan) that maintain detailed DEI spending records.

Gwent Police spends £110,427 annually on diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) staff, according to FOI Response 2025-28186. STAFFING (3 POSTS): - Strategic Equality & Diversity Manager: £52,491 per annum - Two Community Engagement Officers: £30,468 each (£60,936 combined) - TOTAL STAFF: £113,427 - ETHNICITY: All three members of staff are White-British EXTERNAL TRAINING: - £13,115 spent on external training bodies and courses for DEI training in the last financial year CONTEXT: - A Police Constable starting salary in Gwent is £28,551 per annum - The Strategic Equality & Diversity Manager earns nearly double a starting officer salary - The force employs 3 DEI staff for a regional police force covering Newport, Cardiff area FOI Reference: 2025-28186 (Gwent Police) Source: South Wales Argus, 2025-2026 CROSS-REFERENCE: This follows the pattern documented in West Yorkshire (£1.07m), Metropolitan Police (£5.2m), and Scottish Police Authority FOI disclosures showing widespread DEI spending across UK police forces.

FOI responses reveal EDI staff costs at multiple NHS Trusts: **1. Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust** - FOI Ref: GHC-12092025-604177 | Response: 20 October 2025 - 1 EDI staff member - Salary cost: £33,872.40 (most recent financial year) - EDI training spend: £889.17 (2025-26), £1,186 (2024-25) - Note: 2023-24 figures unavailable due to "internal changes of budgetary permissions" **2. Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust** - FOI Ref: FOI/25/365 | Requested: 07/02/2025 - 2 staff: Head of EDI (Band 8A) + EDI Officer (Band 6) - Staff cost: £116,972 - Training subs: £12,847 - Training courses: £37,200 - Total: £167,019 **3. Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust** - FOI Ref: FOI 0478 2025 | Response: June 2025 - 4 staff members in EDI roles (including Associate AD of EDI & OD at 0.3 WTE) - EDI total spend 2023/24: £239,789 (includes staff salaries and all non-pay) **4. Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust** - FOI Ref: 11307 | Response: 15 December 2025 - 2 WTE Band 6 EDI staff - Salary cost: £103,598-£124,718 (including employers on-costs) - Training costs: Refused under S12 (cost of compliance exceeds limit) **5. University Hospitals of Derby & Burton NHS Foundation Trust** - 2.6 WTE equality and diversity posts - Serves 14,500 staff and population of over 1 million **6. SECAmb NHS Trust** - 2 equality and diversity posts - Cost provided in FOI response **Pattern**: Multiple NHS trusts maintaining dedicated EDI staffing infrastructure with combined salary costs ranging from £33k to £240k per trust annually.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood official speech confirms asylum accommodation costs: **Source**: Speech at GOV.UK, 5 March 2026 **Reference**: Home Secretary official statement **Key Figures**: - £4 billion spent last year on asylum accommodation - Over 100,000 people in taxpayer-funded asylum accommodation - Family of 3 in asylum hotel: up to £158,000 per year cost **Cross-Reference**: Previous FOI data from Cycle 11 showed: - Asylum hotel nightly rate: £144.98 vs £23.25 for dispersal housing - Asylum consuming 20% of UK aid budget (£2.8bn in 2024) - Epping Forest Council spent £566,000 in legal costs fighting asylum hotel **Significance**: Official ministerial confirmation of the £4bn figure provides primary source evidence for Sovereign Resource Auditor beat. The 100,000+ figure in taxpayer-funded accommodation represents significant demographic/resource allocation.

West Midlands Police FOI disclosure log reveals active information requests on sensitive topics: **FOI Log Reference**: foi.west-midlands.police.uk/disclosure-log/ **Notable Requests Processed**: 1. **Diversity and Inclusion** (1713A/23) - January 2024 2. **Stonewall** (1930A/23) - January 2024 - Likely related to Stonewall partnership 3. **Asylum Seeker Hotels** (449A/24) - April 2024 4. **Religious Hate Crime** (543A/24) - April 2024 5. **Race Hate Crimes** (1954A/23) - January 2024 6. **Hate Crime where police are victim** (128A/24) - February 2024 7. **Arrests by Nationality** (1745A/23) - February 2024 8. **Ethnic Breakdown of Victim and Suspect** (1822A/23) - December 2023 9. **Internal Complaints Against Ethnic Minority Officers** (1790A/23) - December 2023 **Also Found**: West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner FOI document (FOI_13-Diversity-Roles-1.pdf) dated 14/03/2025 - Reference 2025-00284 - requesting diversity roles information. **Pattern**: Active public interest in police diversity data, hate crime statistics, asylum-related policing, and racial demographics of crime. This FOI log provides evidence of the type of information being requested from police forces.

FOI investigation reveals Essex Police maintains substantial diversity and wellbeing staffing: **Source**: Guido Fawkes FOI investigation (October 2025) **Force**: Essex Police (which oversaw policing of Epping migrant protests) **Staff Breakdown**: - 4 central diversity officers - 5 wellbeing officers - Total: 9 dedicated staff **Salary Costs** (after 4.2% pay award): - Total: £450,897 per year **Job Titles Include**: - "Diversity & Inclusion Co-ordinator" - "Diversity & Inclusion Officer" - "Diversity & Inclusion Inspector" - "Wellbeing Team Leader" **Context**: Same force was noted for escorting pro-migrant activists to Bell Hotel protest before violence erupted. **Note**: West Midlands Police also has FOI disclosure log showing diversity-related requests processed (including "Diversity and Inclusion" ref 1713A/23). South Wales Police FOI request pending on DEI spending 2022-23 and 2023-24.

FOI requests to 70 of 125 acute NHS trusts reveal spending over £8.2 million annually on diversity and inclusion jobs. Individual trust examples: Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust - £149,035 for three EDI posts including subscriptions; Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust - £33,872 for one EDI staff member. Additional investigation reveals NHS spent £2 million on 'woke' events including Pride crafting and Eurovision activities. Source: The Telegraph FOI investigation, IBTimes UK.

Home Office annual accounts reveal £2.1 billion spent on asylum accommodation in 2024-25 (April 2024 - March 2025). This represents 30% reduction from previous year due to reduced hotel use. Average daily cost: £5.77 million. Total asylum system cost: £4.76 billion including processing, legal aid, and support services. Source: Home Office Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, BBC reporting, NAO.

FOI investigation reveals UK police forces collectively spend over £10 million annually on DEI positions, equivalent to 354 additional frontline officers. West Yorkshire and Thames Valley police are highest spenders, each exceeding £1 million on DEI roles. Metropolitan Police plans to spend £5.2 million/year on 64 DEI staff while cutting 1,700 officers amid £250 million budget shortfall. Source: GB News FOI investigation, Metropolitan Police FOI reference 01.FOI.25.042955.

**Source:** The Times investigation **Date:** March 2025 (findings still current) **Key Finding:** The cost of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) salaries at British universities has doubled in three years and is now costing the sector £28 million per year. **Specific Disclosures:** - **Oxford University:** £2.5 million on developing EDI teams - **Top EDI boss salary:** Up to £119,274 pro rata basic salary - Several EDI staff paid more than senior academics **Context:** Universities have increased investment despite: - Mounting political and cultural challenges to EDI practices - Criticism that funds could be directed to core educational functions - Higher education funding crisis

**Source:** Freedom of Information requests by The Epoch Times to major NHS Trusts **Date of Investigation:** 2024-2025 **Individual Trust DEI Spending Disclosed:** | Trust | Annual DEI Staff Cost | |-------|----------------------| | King's College Hospital NHS FT | £558,429 | | Guy's and St Thomas' NHS FT | £450,000 | | Royal Free London NHS FT | £156,000 (up from £19,000 in 2019) | | Leeds Teaching Hospitals | Up to £50,000 (1 manager) | | Manchester University NHS FT | 8 DEI staff, 3 on bands £50,056-£58,972 | | Chelsea and Westminster NHS FT | £55,049-£63,541 per role | | UCLH | £67,397-£78,314 (DEI lead), £57,208 (DEI project manager) | **Key Finding:** When asked to provide evidence that DEI spending improved patient outcomes: - King's College Hospital cited a 2014 study as evidence - Manchester University cited "breastfeeding canteen vouchers for parents" - Leeds said question was "too vague" - Guy's and St Thomas: "does not currently have mapped evidence" - Royal Free London pointed to documents stating it "hopes to have evidence" **Government Report (Inclusion at Work Panel, March 2024):** - 6,000 public authorities - ~10,000 public sector DEI jobs - Total cost: £557 million per year to UK taxpayer **Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch commented:** Diversity and inclusion initiatives have been shown to be "ineffective and counterproductive."

**Institution:** West Yorkshire Police **FOI Reference:** FOI 2349822/25 **Response Date:** January 2025 **DEI Staff Posts Identified (19 total):** - 1 x Head of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion - £91,536 - 1 x Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Manager - £57,252 - 3 x Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Officers - £45,924 per person - 2 x Administrative Assistant for DEI and Positive Action - £30,912 per person - 1 x DEI Comms and Marketing Lead - £53,412 - 1 x DEI Comms and Marketing Officer - £42,492 - 1 x Positive Action T/Inspector – Uniformed - £94,272 - 1 x Positive Action Sergeant – Uniformed - £79,716 - 1 x Positive Action Progression Officer - £45,924 - 6 x Positive Action Ambassadors (PCs) – Uniformed - £59,844 per person - 1 x Equality & Diversity Trainer - Police staff - £45,924 **Total Salary Cost:** £1,425,696 annually **External Training:** £361,000 (to single external provider) **Combined Total:** £1,786,696 annually **Ethnic Minority Representation:** 6 of 19 posts filled by ethnic minority applicants **Key Quote from WYP:** "As the fourth largest police force in England, West Yorkshire Police is committed to building a workforce which is representative of the diverse communities which it serves and investing in resources that deliver better outcomes for all residents and visitors to the region." **Context:** Despite £1.79m annual DEI spending, force states it cannot provide specific proportions of time spent on DEI matters vs other departmental work, citing "dynamic fluctuations" and "interconnected workstreams."

**Institution:** West Yorkshire Police **FOI Reference:** FOI 2787839-25 **Request Date:** January 2026 **Request:** Information on incidents associated with asylum accommodation (including contingency hotels or Home Office-notified sites) for period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, including: - Known premises or location-type classifications - Named policing operations or hotspot locations - District/BCU-level demand or safeguarding reports - Custody outcome or case-file submission summaries **Response:** "West Yorkshire Police has no location qualifier for asylum accommodation (including contingency hotels or Home Office notified sites). Whilst sites are known there are no specific operations/classifications/reports in any aggregated or management level form." **Significance:** Police forces cannot track crime statistics related to asylum accommodation, making it impossible to assess public safety impact of dispersal policies or hotel locations.

**Institution:** Scottish Police Authority **FOI Reference:** FOI 2025/26-106 **Request Date:** 14 January 2026 **Response Date:** 11 February 2026 **Published:** 23 February 2026 **Request Summary:** Requester asked for: 1. Organisation's definition of 'woman', 'lesbian', 'bisexual', 'gay' 2. Actions carried out for women (per Supreme Court For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers ruling) - last 5 years with cost breakdown 3. Actions for LGBT people with cost breakdown 4. Funding agreements with LGBT organisations 5. Total spend on LGBT diversity schemes 2020-2025 **Response:** "Information not held" - Scottish Police Authority holds no central record of spending on women and LGBT initiatives from 2020 to date. **Note:** This follows a pattern of Scottish public bodies claiming not to hold records on sex-based spending while maintaining records on gender identity initiatives.

Various NHS Trust FOI responses reveal EDI staffing and spending: NHS TRUSTS RESPONDING TO FOI REQUESTS: 1. Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust: - 2 EDI staff: Head of EDI (Band 8A) + EDI Officer (Band 6) - Total spend for 2023/24 on diversity, equality and inclusion (including staff salaries): £41,009 - Staff salaries based on NHS Agenda for Change pay scales 2. Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals (WWL): - EDI Patient Service Lead: 27.5 hours (within Patient Experience & Engagement Team) - Total salary cost for 2024-25: £41,009 - Total spend on EDI training specified in document 3. Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership: - FOI 2025/1388: EDI staff numbers and salary costs as of September 2025 - Total spend on EDI-related training, workshops, events or external consultancy 4. NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB: - FOI.ICB-2526/197: EDI staff, costs, training and consultancy - Approved by Jo Hicks, Chief People Officer - Response dated October 2025 5. Ashford St Peters NHS Trust: - FOI Request 11307: EDI staff and salary costs as of September 2025 - Total salary cost and EDI training spend for past three financial years COMMON PATTERN: NHS trusts following similar FOI template requesting: - Number of staff with primary EDI role - Total salary cost for EDI staff - Total spend on EDI training, workshops, events, external consultancy - Data typically requested as of September 2025 NHS Gloucester NHS Foundation Trust has published EDI Annual Report 2024-2025 with detailed activities.

Scottish Police Authority FOI response reveals EDI spending since 2019. FOI Reference: 2024/25-105 Date Issued: 27 February 2025 Request Date: 30 January 2025 REQUEST: How much has the organisation spent on measures relating to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in each year since 2019-20? Provide as much information on what this money has been spent on. RESPONSE: Full PDF document available from SPA publication library (unable to access due to 403 restriction). RELATED RECENT SPA FOI RELEASES (March 2026): - FOI 2025-26-120: Algorithmic profiling and predictive policing systems (19 March 2026) - FOI 2025-26-118: Senior officers' income tax information (18 March 2026) - Committee Effectiveness Report (16 March 2026) Scotland Context: Police Scotland spent £342,000 on external DEI courses for staff (per Spectator investigation). The Scottish Police Authority holds Police Scotland to account as independent governance body established 1 April 2013.

WhatDoTheyKnow FOI requests reveal ongoing public interest in asylum accommodation costs and hotel usage: REQUEST 1 (Asylum Accommodation - Reference 16): Requests: 1. Number of hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers, broken down by UK region 2. Total cost to taxpayer for hotel accommodation in most recent 12-month period 3. Copies of current policies, internal guidance, or instructions relating to hotel use for asylum seekers REQUEST 2 (FOI Reference: freedom_of_information_request_u_57): Requests: 1. Number of hotels currently used to accommodate asylum seekers, broken down by UK region 2. Total cost to taxpayer for hotel accommodation in most recent 12-month period 3. Contracts and agreements with hotels used for asylum accommodation REQUEST 3 (Refugee and Asylum Accommodation Costs): Requests total accommodation costs for refugees and asylum seekers for 2022 and 2023, including: - Total accommodation costs - Total financial support provided to refugees and asylum seekers Note: Internal review requested after Home Office handling of request. GOVERNMENT DATA CONFIRMING SCALE: - Home Office annual accounts: £2.1bn spent on hotel accommodation in year to March 2025 - Average cost: approximately £5.77m per day - NAO report: Expected 10-year cost (2019-2029) trebled from £4.5bn to £15.3bn - Expected cost to exceed £15.5bn over 10 years - £1.2bn budgeted for large accommodation sites - Estimated £46m for large site costs per year PARLIAMENTARY EVIDENCE: - Commons Home Affairs Committee: Hotels became "widespread and embedded" part of asylum system, increasing costs by billions beyond original forecast - MPs conclusion: Result of "series of failures by Home Office in design of original contracts"

Investigation reveals the number of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) roles in UK police forces has increased to nearly 200, up from fewer than 150 three years ago - a 33% increase. KEY FINDINGS: - EDI roles increased from ~150 to ~200 across 43 police forces - Forces now employing nearly 300 staff in diversity roles (Spectator analysis: ~300 staff, £17 million total) - West Yorkshire Police among highest spenders at £1.4 million including training - City of London Police (smallest territorial force) spending £767,000 on 8 staff - Surrey Police spending £376,005 on salaries plus £366,870 on training courses - Police Scotland spent £342,000 on external courses for staff SPENDING CONTEXT: - Forces spending hundreds of thousands on external training providers - Essex: 9 staff costing £614,000 - Durham and North Yorkshire: both spending over £500,000 annually - At least 15 forces spending over £200,000 per year on DEI CRITICISMS: - TaxPayers' Alliance called for roles to be abolished and money redirected to frontline - Former Met Police detective Peter Bleksley: "This waste of taxpayer money is criminal, driven by a deeply flawed and prejudicial ideology" - WYP facing £14 million budget deficit for 2025/26 - Critics note forces still accused of institutional racism despite sustained investment If similar investment has been made across all 43 forces for 15 years, total expenditure could exceed £800 million according to ESN Report analysis.

Detailed breakdown of West Yorkshire Police DEI staffing structure from FOI response: HEAD OF DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION - Salary: £91,536 DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION MANAGER - Salary: £57,252 3 X DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION OFFICERS - Salary: £45,924 each 2 X ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS FOR DEI - Salary: £30,912 each EQUALITY & DIVERSITY TRAINER (Police Staff) - Salary: £45,924 DEI COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING LEAD - Salary: £53,412 DEI COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING OFFICER - Salary: £42,492 UNIFORMED POSITIVE ACTION ROLES: - Positive Action T/Inspector: £94,272 - Positive Action Sergeant: £79,716 - Positive Action Progression Officer: £45,924 - 6 X Positive Action Ambassadors (uniformed PCs): £59,844 each TOTAL ANNUAL WAGE BILL: £1,069,188 (excludes pension, tax, National Insurance contributions) EXTERNAL TRAINING: £351,000 paid to one external provider (final payment "yet to be finalised") ETHNIC MINORITY REPRESENTATION: 6 of 19 roles filled by ethnic minority applicants Total including training: approximately £1.42 million annually FOI Reference: 2349822-25 (January 2025)

GB News Freedom of Information investigation reveals police forces in England spending £10,285,309 annually on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives. BREAKDOWN BY FORCE: TOP FIVE SPENDERS ON DEI POSITIONS (salaries): 1. Thames Valley: 17 posts, £1,085,170 2. West Yorkshire: 19 posts, £1,069,188 3. City of London: 8 posts, £767,235 4. Essex: 10 posts, £614,556 5. Durham: 14 posts, £589,116 TOP THREE SPENDERS ON DEI TRAINING: 1. Surrey: £366,870.56 (training) + £376,005.47 (salaries) 2. West Yorkshire: £361,000 (training) + £1,069,188 (salaries) 3. City of London: £89,565 (training) + £767,235 (salaries) TOTAL BREAKDOWN: - Wages for DEI posts: £9,374,457.30 - Training courses: £910,852 - Total: £10,285,309.30 ADDITIONAL FINDING: This £10.28m would fund 354 police officers at starting salary of £29,000. NOTE: Two forces refused to disclose (Greater Manchester Police, North Yorkshire Police). Full breakdown captured for 43 police forces including: Avon & Somerset (£288,498), Bedfordshire (£101,295), Cambridgeshire (£73,077), Cheshire (£285,500), Cleveland (£198,000), Derbyshire (£313,713), Gloucestershire (£205,911), Hampshire (£59,556), Humberside (£145,912), Kent (£323,701), Lancashire (£216,408), Leicestershire (£166,425), Lincolnshire (£73,000), MPS/Metropolitan (£417,400), Norfolk (£90,000), Northamptonshire (£117,000), North Yorkshire (refused), Nottinghamshire (£298,000), South Yorkshire (£298,000), Staffordshire (£117,000), Suffolk (£90,000), Surrey (£376,005 + £366,870 training), Thames Valley (£1,085,170), Warwickshire (£72,000), West Midlands (£485,000), West Yorkshire (£1,069,188 + £361,000 training), Wiltshire (£117,000). Cumbria Police reported ZERO DEI roles or costs - the only force to do so. West Yorkshire FOI Reference: 2349822-25 (January 2025)

**FOI Reference:** FOI-RDF3174-25 (Royal Devon NHS Foundation Trust) **Date of Response:** 2025 **Figures Disclosed:** - Staff: 2 full-time equivalents (FTEs) in diversity, equality, equity or inclusion roles - Total spend: £105,000 to £115,000 (banded response) for last financial year - Includes staff salaries and external training bodies/courses **Context:** This represents a single NHS Trust. Multiple NHS trusts are being surveyed through FOI requests about DEI staffing and spending, suggesting coordinated research into NHS diversity spending. **Comparable FOI Requests Found:** - Great Western Hospitals NHS (GHC): 1 staff member, request reference FOI346-2025 - South West London & St George's NHS: <10 staff in EDI roles - Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS: Staff count as of September 2025 - NHS Lothian: Equality and Diversity Spend, reference 9840 **Cross-Beat Correlation:** This corroborates Institutional Capture beat findings about NHS EDI spending and potential resource misallocation in healthcare.