Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

UK Asylum System and Asylum Seekers’ Mental Health

13 April 2021 · 7 other contributors · 8,942 words

Opened by Carol Monaghan SNP Glasgow North West

Responding minister: Kevin Foster

Asylum & RefugeesMental Health

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Carol Monaghan raised concerns about uk asylum system and asylum seekers’ mental health in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Carol Monaghan is concerned that UK asylum seekers are five times more likely to suffer from poor mental health than the general population.
  • She highlights issues such as long decision wait times, substandard accommodation, and bans on working as detrimental factors.
  • Monaghan calls for an end to reliance on emergency institutional accommodation like hotels and barracks, advocating instead for community-based housing and the right to work six months after lodging an asylum claim.

Key requests to Government

Monaghan asks for an end to reliance on institutional emergency accommodation such as hotels and barracks, investment in more community-based housing, and granting asylum seekers the right to work six months after lodging a claim without constraints from the shortage occupation list. She also requests that the Home Office gathers correct information during interviews to make decisions accurately.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Carol Monaghan SNP Glasgow North West

Carol Monaghan is concerned about the UK asylum system's impact on mental health, highlighting that asylum seekers are five times more likely to have poor mental health than the general population. She points out that long waits for decisions, poor accommodation, and a ban on working contribute to this situation. In Glasgow, where she works directly with asylum seekers, concerns include emergency hotel accommodation conditions and the removal of small asylum support during the pandemic. The use of dilapidated Army barracks is also criticised as unsuitable housing.

Other contributors (7)
  • Holly Lynch Lab Halifax

    Ms Lynch highlighted the failure of the UK asylum system, criticising the Conservative government for its inhumane decision to use military barracks as accommodation for asylum seekers. She cited issues such as overcrowded dormitories and insufficient sanitation at Napier barracks and Penally camp, leading to a large-scale outbreak of COVID-19. The MP also mentioned mental health concerns, with one-third of residents feeling suicidal.

  • Jamie Stone Lib Dem Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

    Jamie Stone read a letter from Christina Livesey, expressing concerns about the treatment of asylum seekers in the UK. The letter highlighted issues such as denial of proper medical care, suicides due to poor conditions, unsuitable housing, isolation, and trauma. Stone emphasized that the policies proposed by the Home Office are outdated and unworkable.

  • Jessica Morden Lab Newport East

    The Home Office's decision to house asylum seekers in Penally barracks during a pandemic highlighted issues of welfare and accommodation concerns. Refugees are five times more likely to have mental health needs than the UK population, compounded by financial insecurity, inability to work, and lengthy Home Office delays leading to uncertainty and stress.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Jim Shannon acknowledged the contributions of colleagues and highlighted concerns about the asylum support rates, which are set at £39.60 per week or £5.66 per day, far below the poverty line. He asked the Minister to explain how genuine cases involving women and children can be addressed under current legislation and requested an increase in staffing to reduce decision-making backlogs that affect mental health.

  • Kate Osamor Lab Co-op Edmonton and Winchmore Hill

    The asylum system in the UK is failing with record-high waiting times for initial decisions on asylum claims, reaching 60,548 people by September 2020. A constituent from Yemen has been waiting almost two years for a decision after claiming asylum in June 2019. Asylum seekers and refugees face unique mental health challenges with 61% experiencing serious mental distress, five times higher than the general population.

  • Paul Blomfield Lab Sheffield Central

    The Home Secretary's assertion that the asylum system is broken highlights issues for those seeking refuge. Detention on arrival and reception centres resemble detention by another name, exacerbating trauma and isolation. The Government's plan dehumanises asylum seekers, framing them as a problem rather than addressing their needs. Paul Blomfield co-chaired an inquiry into immigration detention which found that long-term detention causes significant mental health problems. Alternatives to detention should be expanded but are being wound down instead.

  • Stuart McDonald SNP Glasgow South

    The asylum system is fragile and in need of investment, but the Government's proposed plan will make matters worse. There are policies that should be supported, but they lack resources or have been poorly implemented. The dispersed accommodation model faces issues due to outsourcing and inappropriate conditions. Asylum support levels are too low, excluding asylum seekers from work has negative mental health impacts, military barracks for housing are a concerning precedent, family reunion rights are being restricted, and new immigration rules limit the admissibility of claims.

Government Response

Kevin Foster

Mr Foster noted the UK's proud record of helping refugees, resettling more people through planned schemes than any other European country. He highlighted efforts to resettle 20,000 refugees despite pandemic challenges and acknowledged the need for faster decision-making in the asylum system. The minister discussed recent government initiatives aimed at improving fairness and effectiveness while protecting those genuinely seeking refuge. He addressed concerns about accommodation types, mentioning an increase in demand during the pandemic leading to more than 60,000 asylum seekers receiving safe accommodation, though some were housed in contingency sites for extended periods due to challenges faced. Mr Foster confirmed that statutory obligations towards destitute asylum seekers have been consistently met and support payments increased. He also addressed health services access for asylum seekers and refugees across the UK, including mental health initiatives and safeguarding measures. The minister discussed Glasgow's role as a significant dispersal area and highlighted work following an incident at the Park Inn hotel, noting progress on recommendations from evaluations undertaken to prevent similar occurrences. Mr Foster concluded by emphasizing the UK's commitment to supporting vulnerable individuals and continuing collaborative efforts with various partners.

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