Asylum System Reform 2020-12-14
2020-12-14
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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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.
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.
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.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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The MP raises the issue of prioritising claims from unsafe countries over those from inherently safe countries such as France.
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?
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.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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The MP emphasizes the importance of prompt departure for those whose asylum claims have been rejected.
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?
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.
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Q4
Partial Answer
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The MP questions the Minister about the consequences of not managing the backlog of asylum claims, mentioning temporary accommodation in unsuitable locations.
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?
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.
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risks and consequences mentioned by MP not directly addressed
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Q5
Direct Answer
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The MP highlights the need to reform the bloated and broken system, mentioning that approximately 60,000 people are currently stuck in the system.
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.
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.
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Q6
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP emphasizes the need for stronger legislation to address loopholes and abuses in the current system.
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?
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.
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