More than half a million pounds has been spent on research projects on the needs of asylum seekers and refugees.

The Home Office brought in the world famous communications company, M&C Saatchi for some of its work at a cost of £229,920.

Between April and November of 2022, taxpayers' money was spent on research into the "vulnerability across migratory and UK asylum journeys and to better understand needs and support throughout the UK asylum journey".

It comes as as many as 200 government contracts for asylum seekers and refugees are costing the taxpayer £6.6 billion. Friendship schemes, tennis coaches and sandwiches are also amongst the programmes funded by the Home Office and local councils over the past five years.

A £199,337.45 contract was given to the National Centre for Social Research to look into the "decision-making of asylum seekers" from February to October of 2022.

It consisted of a review of evidence, qualitative data collection and a framework for understanding factors influencing asylum seeker decision-making, and making recommendations for future research.

A project to research the "lived experiences" of refugees and asylum seekers cost £225,090.

The Home Office paid the University of Birmingham £10,475.51 to conduct a review on adopting international approaches to integration in the UK.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The government is required by law to provide support to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute, but we are determined to ensure value for money in all future contracts, and have introduced new controls to minimise non-essential spending which were not in place when the majority of these contracts were signed under the previous government."Overall, we are determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly, and it remains our commitment to cut the costs of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of hotels over time."