Small-boat migrants have been given more than 1,000 free hijabs on the British taxpayer this year, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Internal government figures show that officials have been handing over Muslim head coverings to those illegally landing on our shores at a rate of 162 a month.

On Saturday, the Conservatives said it was ‘an insult to hard-working British taxpayers’ to dish out hijabs to those ‘breaking into our country’ – although the Home Office insisted it had a legal duty to provide them.

The disclosure comes amid growing political controversy over Muslim headwear, which many critics regard as symbols of female subservience.

Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott told this newspaper she was opposed to hijabs being part of school uniforms, saying: ‘I do not believe the state should be party to an instrument of female suppression.’

News of the free headgear comes as there is mounting public frustration over the flow of migrants across the Channel and potential security implications.

On Friday, two Iranian nationals who had arrived on small boats were charged with planning a terrorist attack over an alleged plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community during Yom Kippur.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: ‘The Government must stop handing out hijabs to illegal immigrants immediately.

‘It’s an insult to hard-working British taxpayers that they’re funding religious items for people who have broken into our country. It should not be for us to fund someone else’s religious practices.

‘Many illegal immigrants actually hate our values. Many come here for free accommodation and a life on benefits at our expense.

‘Illegal immigrants crossing the channel are breaking into our country. They have no legitimate reason to flee France, which is clearly safe.

‘That’s why we must leave the European Convention on Human Rights so we can deport all illegal immigrants immediately upon arrival.’

A Home Office source said it had a legal duty to provide basic clothing, including cultural and religious items, under the Short-term Holding Facility Rules.

It added: ‘All arrivals receive a basic dry clothing pack where required. The items available form part of standard welfare arrangements.’

The fact that three-quarters of the migrants are men is reflected in the clothing statistics: a total of 10,694 male clothing packs were handed over, including 22 in XXX Large size.

Read More: UK hands out 1,000 hijabs to channel migrants