Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much revenue was generated in the last 12 months by the £2.74 charge for public enquiries to the UK Visas and Immigration Department via email.

The £2.74 email charge is levied to fund the commercial contract, as the UK government believes it is right those who use and benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution towards meeting the costs of the immigration system.

Those who use the services are predominantly from outside the UK. Our web site gov.uk is the main source of information and advice and is free of charge.

Further details of the financial arrangement in place between the Home Office and SITEL UK Ltd for the provision of Contact Centre Services (UK and International) is not available due to it being commercially sensitive.