Recommendations & Conclusions
7 items
1
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Not Addressed
The asylum system is undergoing substantial reform, in part due to the Home Office’s inability to process the volume of asylum claims it receives effectively and expeditiously. The Government is now seeking to reduce the ability of people to claim asylum in the UK despite recent figures showing the majority …
Government response. The government does not directly address the committee's concerns about increasing risks for vulnerable groups under proposed asylum changes, instead reiterating its commitment to the Illegal Migration Act and asserting that any differential impact is proportionate to tackling illegal migration.
Government Equalities Office
4
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Not Addressed
The Home Office document, ‘Gender issues in the asylum claim’, includes very welcome guidance on gender sensitive asylum interview practice, including on meeting claimants’ requests for female interviewers, providing childcare where necessary and allowing female claimants to have a friend or other companion present to provide emotional or medical support. …
Government response. The government describes its existing processes for informing asylum claimants about gender-sensitive interview options and for attempting to meet requests. However, it does not commit to carrying out the recommended review of implementation or publishing an action plan, noting it …
Government Equalities Office
12
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Not Addressed
In order to fulfil the Prime Minister’s pledge to clear a substantial part of the backlog of asylum cases this year, the Home Office will need many more highly-trained decision-makers making initial decisions faster. Data on decision-making rates and appeal outcomes show initial decisions are far too slow and too …
Government response. The government's response describes existing specialised training modules for asylum decision-makers and past collaboration with experts, stating it will seek to do so in any future review. It does not address the committee's concerns about the need for more highly-trained …
Government Equalities Office
13
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Not Addressed
The Home Office must establish a new programme of training for Home Office decision- makers and presenting officers particularly on matters concerning gender, sexual orientation and gender identity-based asylum claims. Training should be delivered by independent expert stakeholders, drawing on lived experiences of refugees. The Home Office must also improve …
Government response. The government states that initial training for asylum decision-makers already includes specialised modules and that it has collaborated with experts previously. However, it does not commit to establishing a *new* training programme delivered by *independent expert stakeholders* or to improving …
Government Equalities Office
28
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Not Addressed
We welcome the Government’s announcement that all Detained Duty Advice Scheme appointments in immigration detention, including Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (IRC), will now be delivered face-to-face. However, the Government must address further potential barriers to accessing legal advice in Derwentside IRC. It must ensure that information in foreign languages about …
Government response. The government's response describes existing verbal advisories on legal representation provided during induction, with interpreters available, but it does not address the recommendation to display information about legal advice in foreign languages on posters or to take steps to improve …
Government Equalities Office
34
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Not Addressed
Accommodation of Afghan refugees in bridging hotels for many months has been deeply problematic, with serious safeguarding issues for people with vulnerabilities arising from protected characteristics, including women and children enduring crowded conditions alongside single men. For many, integration and employment support has been entirely lacking. The lessons of the …
Government response. The government details the support, funding, and services provided to Afghan refugees, stating that resettlement schemes are continuously monitored internally. However, it does not commit to commissioning or publishing an independent review and equality impact assessment within six months, as …
Government Equalities Office
36
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Not Addressed
We heard worrying evidence of safeguarding risks to vulnerable adults and children where UK sponsors and Ukrainians in the Homes for Ukraine scheme have self- matched via the internet and social media. We welcome safeguarding guidance to local authorities published earlier this year, but it is regrettable that it was …
Government response. The government details existing safeguarding measures within the Ukrainian schemes, including mandatory security and DBS checks, welfare visits by councils, and guidance for online matching. However, it does not commit to carrying out a specific review of safeguarding within three …
Government Equalities Office