Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Deferred
Paragraph: 60
Address long delays in asylum casework system to ensure effective route to safety
Conclusion
Given the threats of imprisonment under the new security law faced by some Hong Kong young people, the asylum system should be another appropriate route for them to be able to follow. It is troubling that we have heard they are deterred from doing so. The current delays in the asylum system which leave young people—not just from Hong Kong—unable to study or work potentially for years before their cases are resolved are a serious problem. The Home Office must urgently address the long delays in the asylum casework system that are preventing it from operating as an effective route to safety and security for those in need of sanctuary.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response describes the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) as a temporary route for cultural exchange that does not lead to settlement, failing to address the recommendation to urgently tackle long delays in the asylum casework system.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
60
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
8. The UK has a proud history of granting protection to those who need it, in-line with our international obligations. Asylum claims made from within the UK are determined on a case-by-case basis. There is nothing to prevent or deter a person from making such a claim. 9. We are working to improve the speed of decisions and reduce the number of outstanding claims. For example, we are putting in place a comprehensive people plan focused on recruitment, retention, career development, well-being and engagement for our decision makers. Recruitment plans will be seeking to almost double our decision-maker capacity by end of March 2022. 10. We are also pursuing an ambitious transformation programme to reform the asylum system and reduce the number of outstanding claims. We are looking at options to build a programme of work to modernise intake and screening to streamline the front end and are considering technical interventions that can automate some functions to enable decision makers to focus on the consideration process. We have already made significant progress expanding the digital interviewing infrastructure to allow more asylum seekers to be interviewed remotely. 11. However, there will always be complex cases, and it is right we take time to work through them carefully.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗