Asylum Claims Backlog

Laura Kyrke-Smith (Aylesbury) (Lab) and Vikki Slade (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (LD) asked the Minister of State, Home Department (Dame Angela Eagle) about the steps the Department is taking to clear the asylum backlog. In her response, Dame Angela Eagle acknowledged that the government had inherited an asylum system that was not working and had cost billions of pounds. She stated that the government is determined to restore order to the asylum system, ensuring that it operates swiftly, firmly, and fairly. She mentioned that additional caseworkers will be used to clear the backlog of claims and appeals, while also properly enforcing the rules and ensuring that those with no right to be in the country are swiftly removed. Laura Kyrke-Smith followed up, asking what steps the Home Secretary will take to ensure that newly recognized refugees do not face homelessness and destitution in the weeks after being granted status. Specifically, she asked if the Home Secretary would consider extending the move-on period to 56 days, in line with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. Dame Angela Eagle acknowledged the need for a smooth transition between asylum accommodation and other accommodation for those granted leave to remain, and stated that the government is considering this issue. Vikki Slade then intervened, noting that according to a 2022 YouGov poll, 81% of people support a right of asylum seekers to work. She stated that currently, successful asylum seekers have little choice but to present to their local authority as homeless, as they have no way of saving for a deposit or proving an income to a potential landlord. Slade mentioned that some councils, such as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council, have joined the "lift the ban" coalition in supporting people's right to work after six months. She acknowledged that the Minister had talked about speeding up the asylum system, but noted that two-thirds of asylum seeker claims are currently taking more than six months. Slade suggested that a right to work would reduce the homelessness burden on councils and improve the mental health of asylum seekers, helping them to integrate with the host authority and filling vacancies in the economy. She asked the Minister to work with Refugee Action to consider this. Dame Angela Eagle responded that the answer is to speed up the asylum system so that proper results can be obtained much faster, and to swiftly remove those who do not have a right to be in the country, while ensuring that those who do can be integrated and begin to work.