Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Asylum System Reform

Monday 14 December 2020 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 5 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK government plans to reform its asylum system with principles of firmness and fairness.
  • The UK resettlement scheme prioritizes taking people directly from dangerous conflict zones.
  • Rejected asylum seekers should leave the country promptly, according to the government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gareth Bacon Con Orpington
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP asks about the government's plans to reform the UK's asylum system, citing the need for fundamental change due to current issues.

Question

What plans her Department has to reform the UK's asylum system. The system is in need of fundamental reform with principles of firmness and fairness.

Answer from Chris Philp

As the Home Secretary has already announced, we will embark next year on one of the biggest ever reforms of our asylum system. The system is in need of fundamental reform in which the principles will be firmness and fairness—fair in that we will rapidly grant claims that are meritorious, but firm in the sense that, where claims do not have merit, we will rapidly refuse them and ensure that people cannot have endlessly repeated bites of the cherry.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Peter Gibson
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP raises the issue of prioritising claims from unsafe countries over those from inherently safe countries such as France.

Question

We are all rightly proud of the UK's history as a safe haven for the persecuted, but can my hon. Friend outline what steps his Department is taking to ensure that claims of asylum from unsafe countries are being prioritised over those from inherently safe countries such as France?

Answer from Chris Philp

My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue. The United Kingdom's resettlement scheme aims to take people directly from dangerous conflict zones, such as those around Syria, into the United Kingdom. We have run the biggest resettlement scheme of any country in Europe over the last five years. In terms of preventing claims from safe countries, we introduced some inadmissibility rules a few days ago and are working with our French colleagues to prevent small boat crossings from France to the UK.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Chris Green Con
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP emphasizes the importance of prompt departure for those whose asylum claims have been rejected.

Question

It is immensely important that asylum seekers and refugees received the welcome and support they need when seeking sanctuary in the United Kingdom, but does my hon. Friend agree that those who are rejected should leave the country promptly?

Answer from Chris Philp

I agree entirely with my hon. Friend. Where an asylum claim has been rejected, it is only right and fair that the person whose claim has been rejected should leave quickly. Sadly, we are currently accommodating some thousands of failed asylum seekers at public expense.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Caroline Nokes Con Romsey and Southampton North
Immigration Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP questions the Minister about the consequences of not managing the backlog of asylum claims, mentioning temporary accommodation in unsuitable locations.

Question

The failure to manage the backlog of asylum claims has led to the Minister planning open prison-style camps in temporary accommodation in unsuitable locations, remote from healthcare services. Can he explain how changes laid to the immigration rules last week will help residents? Does he not run the risk of establishing a separate tier of asylum seekers who cannot have their claims processed but cannot be returned?

Answer from Chris Philp

The large numbers being accommodated are a consequence of covid as we have been running significantly lower levels of move-ons for people whose asylum claims have been decided. We hope to get those numbers rapidly back down again next year. The immigration rules are laying the foundations for our post-transition period system.

Partly answered

Not addressed: risks and consequences mentioned by MP not directly addressed

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Aaron Bell
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP highlights the need to reform the bloated and broken system, mentioning that approximately 60,000 people are currently stuck in the system.

Question

My hon. Friend will be aware that approximately 60,000 people are currently stuck in our asylum system. Does he agree with me that we must get this reform through to treat those people and taxpayers fairly? We should not be picking up the tab for a bloated and broken system.

Answer from Chris Philp

My hon. Friend puts it perfectly. It is unfair on the taxpayer to have people whose claims have been rejected still subsisting in accommodation, and it is unfair on people with meritorious claims, whose claims take longer to hear because the system is not operating in the way it should.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Gareth Bacon Con Orpington
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP emphasizes the need for stronger legislation to address loopholes and abuses in the current system.

Question

The law on asylum is dated and complex. Loopholes have been exploited for many years and, as my hon. Friend has stated on many occasions, tougher legislation is required. Will he advise the House as to when that legislation will be presented?

Answer from Chris Philp

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. We will be introducing legislation in the first half of next year. It will aim to be fair to people with meritorious claims, to make sure that their claims are decided quickly and they are properly looked after.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email