Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asylum process
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 93
Published 27 June 2023
Recommendations
4
Not Addressed
Para 52
Review and publish an action plan for implementing gender-sensitive asylum interview guidance effectively.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 does not record request data in an aggregable way.
Government Equalities Office
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28
Not Addressed
Ensure foreign language legal advice information and improve mobile phone reception in detention centres.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 mobile phone reception in Derwentside IRC.
Government Equalities Office
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34
Not Addressed
Para 211
Commission and publish independent review and equality impact assessment of the Afghan refugee resettlement approach.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 recommended.
Government Equalities Office
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36
Not Addressed
Monitor and mitigate safeguarding concerns within Ukrainian schemes and conduct a comprehensive review.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 months as recommended.
Government Equalities Office
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Conclusions (3)
1
Conclusion
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 Summary
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.
12
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 93
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 Summary
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 decision-makers, the slowness or wrongness of initial decisions, or delays in engaging with Tribunals.
13
Conclusion
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 Summary
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 the *timeliness* of post-appeal actions.