Recommendation 12

The NAO analysed a sample of 5,000 people who claimed asylum in January 2023 and found that 41% of claims remained open but were not awaiting an appeal decision or outcome of further submissions from the Home Office.22 When we asked for updated figures during our evidence session, the Home Office told us there were “roughly 224,000” individuals waiting in the system at the point the NAO report was completed, noting this includes those awaiting appeal outcomes or further decisions but not does include the backlog of people awaiting an initial asylum decision.23 The Home Office later clarified that the cohort described in the NAO’s analysis includes “claims that were withdrawn or suspended, as well as Failed Asylum Seekers and some smaller groups.” It also noted that the most recent published figure for the number of failed asylum seekers in the system was “just over 41,000” as at the end of June 2023.24