Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Second Report - Asylum and migration: Albania
Home Affairs Committee
HC 197
Published 12 June 2023
Recommendations
3
Accepted
Para 18
Explain high initial asylum grant rates for Albanian citizens compared to other EU countries.
Recommendation
The Home Office should set out in its response to this Report why up to 51% of asylum claims from Albania were given positive initial grounds decisions up to June 2022 and why that rate was much higher than rates …
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Government Response Summary
The government explains that UK asylum processing is subject to specific country guidance case law and various factors impacting grant rates. They highlight a decrease in the Albanian grant rate to 34% by March 2023, and that high withdrawal rates bring the effective grant rate down to 5% when taken into account.
Home Office
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10
Accepted
Mandate quarterly government reports on asylum backlog progress, including decision rates and recruitment
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government report progress on clearing the asylum backlog to us on a quarterly basis (30 September, 31 December, 30 March and 30 June). The progress reports should include data on: a) the number of pending claims …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated it already publishes most of the requested asylum backlog data quarterly through existing official statistics releases, but it does not intend to publish decisions on a weekly basis.
Home Office
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Conclusions (6)
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 1
Albania is a safe country and we have seen little evidence that its citizens should need to seek political asylum in the UK or elsewhere as a result of the actions of its Government. We saw no reason why the UK should routinely accept asylum applications from Albanian citizens, as …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees Albania is a safe country, stating it has issued new guidance for caseworkers, designated Albania as a safe state, and is expediting Albanian claims with dedicated staff. The Illegal Migration Act will further prevent illegal entrants from accessing the asylum system.
2
Conclusion
Accepted
While claims for political asylum should not normally be entertained, there are unquestionably cases of Albanian citizens being trafficked to the UK, from within Albania or from within other European countries, where appropriate safeguards must be in place before they are returned to Albania. (Paragraph 2) UK asylum system
Government Response Summary
The government commits to supporting Albanian structures to bolster victim referral mechanisms, investing in additional protection services, and supporting investigations into trafficking. Specific actions include funding primary service providers for reintegration support, providing mental health counselling, and a feasibility study for an emergency multifunctional centre.
4
Conclusion
Accepted
The Home Office should explain in its response to this Report why the asylum grant rate for Albanian women is so much higher than the grant rate for men. (Paragraph 20) Safe and legal routes
Government Response Summary
The government explains that higher grant rates for Albanian women reflect specific vulnerabilities and increased risks of persecution, citing country guidance case law on trafficked women. They also mention an ongoing project addressing gender inequality and providing comprehensive support services for female trafficking victims, and commit to updating Country Policy and Information Notes.
7
Conclusion
Accepted
The increase in the number and proportion of Albanian nationals arriving in the UK in small boats in 2022 was both sharp and unexpected. It is inevitable that it would attract comment from politicians and others as explanations were sought. That comment has, regrettably, seemed sometimes to single out Albania …
Government Response Summary
The government committed to establishing a joint communication working group with Albanian officials to ensure effective messaging, while also highlighting existing strong relations and operational collaboration.
8
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 52
The Prime Minister told the House of Commons Liaison Committee in March that around 4,000 cases had been cleared in the three months since he pledged to clear the backlog outstanding at 28 June last year. We invite the Home Office to set out how it plans rapidly to increase …
Government Response Summary
The government committed to clearing the legacy asylum backlog by the end of 2023 through a Streamlined Asylum Process, process efficiencies like shorter interviews, and increasing decision makers to 2,500 by September 2023 with redesigned, shorter training.
9
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 55
We have focused on Albania because of its unexpected emergence as the source of most people trying to cross the English Channel on small boats and the subsequent interest in why that should have happened so suddenly and unpredictably. Albania is not the cause of the UK’s current migration concerns. …
Government Response Summary
The government committed to implementing the Illegal Migration Act to detain and remove illegal entrants, establishing a new Small Boats Operational Command with 700 staff, doubling funding for the Organised Immigration Crime taskforce, creating a Joint Migration Task Force in Tirana, and using new migrant accommodation sites.