Select Committee · Human Rights (Joint Committee)
Human Rights of Asylum Seekers in the UK
Status: Closed
Opened: 3 Nov 2022
Closed: 29 May 2024
The Joint Committee on Human Rights is looking into the rights of asylum seekers in the UK, with a view to identifying human rights concerns. Read the terms of reference to find out more about this inquiry .
Oral evidence sessions
| Date | Witnesses | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2024 | Joanna Rowland · Home Office, Michael Tomlinson KC MP · Home Office, Simon Ridley · Home Office | View ↗ |
| 21 Feb 2024 | Lewis Mudge · Human Rights Watch, Paul Rusesabagina | View ↗ |
| 8 Nov 2023 | Antonia Benfield · Doughty Street Chambers, Colin Pettigrew · Migrant Families Taskforce, Deputy Chief Constable Catherine Hankinson · National Police Chiefs’ Council, Kama Petruczenko · The Refugee Council | View ↗ |
| 15 Mar 2023 | Kate Elsayed-Ali · Anti-Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU), Major Kathy Betteridge · Salvation Army, Professor Dame Sara Thornton · The Rights Lab, University of Nottingham, Robyn Phillips · Human Trafficking Foundation | View ↗ |
| 25 Jan 2023 | Dr Peter Walsh · Migration Observatory, Elizabeth Ruddick · UNHCR, Mark Symes · Garden Court Chambers, Vicky Tennant · UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) | View ↗ |
| 11 Jan 2023 | David Worden · North Devon Council, Lesley Storey · Newcastle City Council, Maria Stephens · Refugee Action, Polly Glynn · DPG Law, Roger Gough · The County Councils Network (CCN), Susan Aitken · Glasgow City Council | View ↗ |
| 23 Nov 2022 | Carolyn Housman · Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB), Laura Durán · ECPAT UK (Every Child Protected Against Trafficking), Stewart MacLachlan · Coram Children’s Legal Centre | View ↗ |
| 16 Nov 2022 | Charlie Taylor · HM Inspectorate of Prisons, David Jones · Garden Court Chambers, Pierre Makhlouf · Bail for Immigration Detainees, Rachel Bingham · Medical Justice | View ↗ |
| 26 Oct 2022 | Jonathan Ellis · Refugee Council, Mr James Fookes · Anti-slavery International, Zehrah Hasan · Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants | View ↗ |
Who gave evidence
| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Antonia Benfield · Barrister | Doughty Street Chambers | 1 |
| Carolyn Housman · CEO | Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) | 1 |
| Charlie Taylor · Chief Inspector of Prisons | HM Inspectorate of Prisons | 1 |
| Colin Pettigrew · Chair of the Association of Directors of Children… | Migrant Families Taskforce | 1 |
| David Jones · Barrister | Garden Court Chambers | 1 |
| David Worden · Leader | North Devon Council | 1 |
| Deputy Chief Constable Catherine Hankinson · Missing Persons Lead | National Police Chiefs’ Council | 1 |
| Dr Peter Walsh · Researcher | Migration Observatory | 1 |
| Elizabeth Ruddick · Senior Legal Protection Associate | UNHCR | 1 |
| Joanna Rowland · Director General, Customer Services Group | Home Office | 1 |
| Jonathan Ellis · Public Affairs and Policy Strategic Lead | Refugee Council | 1 |
| Kama Petruczenko · Senior Policy Analyst. Children and Young People | The Refugee Council | 1 |
| Kate Elsayed-Ali · Policy Manager | Anti-Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU) | 1 |
| Laura Durán · Head of Policy, Advocacy and Research | ECPAT UK (Every Child Protected Against Trafficking) | 1 |
| Lesley Storey · Cabinet member responsible for Refugees and Asylu… | Newcastle City Council | 1 |
| Lewis Mudge · Central Africa Director | Human Rights Watch | 1 |
| Major Kathy Betteridge · Director for Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Salvation Army | 1 |
| Maria Stephens · Head of Campaigns | Refugee Action | 1 |
| Mark Symes · Barrister | Garden Court Chambers | 1 |
| Michael Tomlinson KC MP · Minister of State for Countering Illegal Migration | Home Office | 1 |
| Mr James Fookes · Research and Advocacy Coordinator | Anti-slavery International | 1 |
| Paul Rusesabagina | — | 1 |
| Pierre Makhlouf · Legal Director | Bail for Immigration Detainees | 1 |
| Polly Glynn · Managing Partner | DPG Law | 1 |
| Professor Dame Sara Thornton | The Rights Lab, University of Nottingham | 1 |
| Rachel Bingham · Clinical Advisor | Medical Justice | 1 |
| Robyn Phillips · Director of Operations | Human Trafficking Foundation | 1 |
| Roger Gough · Children’s Services Spokesperson | The County Councils Network (CCN) | 1 |
| Simon Ridley · Second Permanent Secretary | Home Office | 1 |
| Stewart MacLachlan · Legal and Policy Manager | Coram Children’s Legal Centre | 1 |
| Susan Aitken · Leader | Glasgow City Council | 1 |
| Vicky Tennant · Representative to the United Kingdom | UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) | 1 |
| Zehrah Hasan · Advocacy Director | Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants | 1 |
Correspondence
| Date | Direction | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 23 May 2024 | — | Correspondence from the Minister of State for Minister of State for Countering … |
| 23 Aug 2023 | — | Correspondence to the Home Secretary relating to delays in correspondence, and … |
| 23 Aug 2023 | — | Correspondence from the Home Secretary relating to unaccompanied children seeki… |
| 23 Aug 2023 | — | Correspondence to the Home Secretary relating to delays in correspondence on un… |
| 16 Mar 2023 | — | Correspondence from Good Law Project and other organisations relating to hotel … |
| 16 Mar 2023 | — | Correspondence to Good Law Project and other organisations relating to hotel ac… |
Meetings & visits
| Date | Type | Detail | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Apr 2023 | Informal meeting | — · Room 16, Palace of Westminster |