Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 44
44
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 187
Some of the temporary measures introduced by the Government in response to Covid-19 hold open...
Recommendation
Some of the temporary measures introduced by the Government in response to Covid-19 hold open the prospect of future improvements in the operation of both the asylum and immigration removal processes. Among these, the decision to extend asylum support for refugees until their first welfare benefit payment is received was a simple and sensible as well as a compassionate measure and should be made permanent. Within the immigration removal process, the decision to remove from immigration detention people who did not need to be there, who were not a danger to the public, and who had no prospect of imminent removal was equally sensible. We are encouraged to note that this action was in line with the Home Office’s Enforcement Instructions and Guidance, which stipulate that detention should only be maintained when removal is imminent (i.e. within 28 days (four weeks)), and which our predecessors in 2019 urged should be formalised through creation of a statutory time limit.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government provides a generic response about its ongoing work during the pandemic to support people in asylum accommodation and immigration removal centres, but does not address the specific recommendation to make the extension of asylum support permanent.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
187
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government · verbatim extract
Not Addressed
COVID-19 global pandemic, the Home Office has been working closely with Public Health leads to put in place a range of measures to support people in the asylum accommodation and immigration removal centre estates. This has included working closely with our providers to ensure the most vulnerable people within the system receive the support they need. As the demands have evolved, we have continued to monitor the situation closely and adjust our processes and procedures where appropriate. We will continue to listen and work closely with our stakeholders throughout the recovery period to continue to safeguard public health as we implement a considered and managed approach to recovery.
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