Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Accepted
Poor asylum questionnaire design potentially increases 'implicitly withdrawn' claims and administrative decisions.
Recommendation
When deciding on an asylum claim, the Home Office can make what it calls ‘administrative decisions’ if a person claiming asylum withdraws their claim or if the Home Office decides a claim is ‘implicitly withdrawn’. The Home Office may withdraw a claim if, for example, a person seeking asylum leaves the UK before the Home Office decides their claim, fails to attend an asylum interview, or fails to complete an asylum questionnaire when asked to do so.26 The poor design, and the requirement to complete the questionnaire in English, may mean that some people are less likely to return the questionnaire, leading the Home Office to decide that an asylum claim has been implicitly withdrawn.27 In April 2023, 72% of asylum decisions made by the Home Office were administrative decisions.28 The Home Office told us that the increase in administrative decisions coincided with it focusing on claims for people from Albania, and that at the time of our evidence session it was making more substantive decisions.29
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's recommendation regarding administrative decisions and states it has been implemented, with further details provided in a letter to the Committee dated 9 January 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 The Home Office has written to the Committee (9 January 2024) in a supporting letter addressing the bullets in this recommendation.