Recommendations & Conclusions
8 items
5
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Rejected
The Home Office should demonstrate it is taking effective steps to mitigate the risk of unequal effects in the asylum process. There is a range of distinct difficulties faced by people claiming asylum on grounds of sexual orientation or gender-identity. These claims are difficult to evidence, legally complex and difficult …
Government response. The government explicitly rejects publishing the main findings of its 2019–20 internal review. It states that it learns from errors through improved guidance, training, and an established quality audit process, including specialist checks for decision-makers handling sexual identity or FGM …
Government Equalities Office
6
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Rejected
We share expert witnesses’ concerns about the performance of the Home Office Country Policy and Information Team and the accuracy and timeliness of Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs). We heard several examples of outdated or otherwise inaccurate CPINs leading to poor initial decisions and flawed legal arguments being made, …
Government response. The government dismisses concerns about the Country Policy and Information Team's performance and CPIN quality, stating that a discrete review is not necessary. It explains that CPIT regularly reviews and updates CPINs and its products are already subject to external …
Government Equalities Office
7
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Rejected
We recommend the Home Office conduct a review of the performance of the Country Policy Information Team, including its ability to maintain and update high quality CPINs in a timely manner. We further recommend the Home Office introduce a new programme of training for asylum decision-makers and presenting officers on …
Government response. The government rejects the recommendation to conduct a review of the Country Policy and Information Team's performance, stating it is not necessary. Regarding training, it notes that decision-makers receive a bespoke module on CPIN use as part of the current …
Government Equalities Office
10
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Rejected
There is a lack of access to expert legal representation for people claiming asylum in the UK. This is particularly problematic in relation to complex claims, often involving sexual orientation or gender identity, religious belief or renunciation of belief, and sexual and gender-based violence and abuse. There is evidence that …
Government response. The government rejects the committee's suggestion that there is insufficient access to legal advice for asylum seekers, citing existing legal aid provisions and £34m spent in 2021/23. It commits to updating the Exceptional Case Funding process to ensure it is …
Government Equalities Office
14
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Rejected
£40 per week was clearly inadequate to meet the essential living needs of people seeking asylum in the UK. Women, including those with children, face particular difficulties and near-impossible choices about how to provide for themselves and their families. It is unsurprising that the High Court ordered an immediate increase …
Government response. The government rejects the committee's implicit suggestion to link asylum support to Universal Credit, stating its position remains that Universal Credit is not set according to the 'essential living needs' test but to 'help with basic living costs'.
Government Equalities Office
15
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Rejected
We recommend the Government set the weekly asylum support payments at 70% of the standard over 25s rate of Universal Credit. The Government should also consider increasing the payment for women to address specifically concerns regarding period poverty. (Paragraph 111) 74 Equality and the UK asylum process
Government response. The government rejects the recommendation to set weekly asylum support payments at 70% of Universal Credit, reiterating its stance that Universal Credit is not for 'essential living needs.' It does not address the suggestion for increased payments for women for …
Government Equalities Office
24
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Rejected
We agree with legal and policy experts that the Government’s equality impact assessment of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022’s asylum provisions is inadequate. There are clear risks, acknowledged by the Government, of unequal effects on asylum claimants with vulnerabilities related to Equality Act protected characteristics. These include women and …
Government response. The government believes any differential impact is because of an individual’s conduct and is proportionate to control illegal migration and reduce crime.
Government Equalities Office
25
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asy…
Rejected
The Home Office must publish an updated equality impact assessment of the Nationality and Borders Act’s asylum provisions within three months. Alongside this assessment it should publish a mitigation plan to prevent discriminatory effects of the Act’s asylum provisions on people with vulnerabilities arising from protected characteristics, including women with …
Government response. The government believes any differential impact is because of an individual’s conduct and is proportionate to control illegal migration and reduce crime.
Government Equalities Office