Equality and the UK asylum process

Women and Equalities Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 27 Sep 2021 Closed: 6 Feb 2024 Parliament page
An inquiry to examine the fairness of the UK asylum process, looking at the experiences of people seeking asylum who have a range of protected characteristics (as defined in the UK’s Equality Act). Read the terms of reference to find out more about this inquiry .
23 Recommendations
13 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Oral sessions
8 Letters
7 Events
Activity timeline 23 events
19 Sep
2023
Report published
27 Jun
2023
Report published
19 Apr
2023
Correspondence
1 Feb
2023
Correspondence
25 Jan
2023
Oral evidence
25 Jan
2023
Correspondence
25 Jan
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
18 Jan
2023
Correspondence
16 Jan
2023
Correspondence
16 Jan
2023
Correspondence
16 Jan
2023
Correspondence
4 Jul
2022
Informal meeting · Birmingham
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
25 Jan 2023
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Women and Equalities Committee
Dan Hobbs · Home Office Mandy Ivemy · Home Office The Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP · Home Office
15 Jun 2022
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Equality and the UK asylum process
Andy Hewett · Refugee Council Esther Baleh Jennifer Blair · Ukraine Advice Project UK Zahra Shaheer
27 Apr 2022
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Equality and the UK asylum process
Esther Muchena · Scottish Refugee Council Ms Rivka Shaw · Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) Rosalind Bragg · Maternity Action
23 Mar 2022
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Equality and the UK asylum process
Annie . · VOICES Network Kathryn Cronin · Garden Court Chambers Ms Pip McKnight · Refugee Women Connect Ms Priscilla Dudhia · Women for Refugee Women Roxana . · VOICES Network
23 Feb 2022
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Equality and UK asylum process
Dr S Chelvan Leila Zadeh · Rainbow Migration Professor Nuno Ferreira · University of Sussex
26 Jan 2022
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Equality and the Asylum Process
David Goodhart · Policy Exchange Jonathan Thomas · Social Market Foundation Ms Zoe Gardner · Joint Council on the Welfare of Immigrants Rossella Pulvirenti · Manchester Metropolitan University
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Equality and the UK asylum process HC 93 27 Jun 2023 36 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
Clear
2 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Collect and publish disaggregated data on asylum claims, decisions, and outcomes by protected characteristics.
It is not currently possible from published official data to monitor outcomes in the asylum process for groups of people with vulnerabilities arising from Equality Act protected characteristics. Experimental statistics on sexual orientation-based claims are a good start and we … Read more
Government Response
The government states it already publishes some requested data and is developing a new caseworking system (Atlas) to improve data recording capabilities. It hopes to publish further disaggregated details, such as grounds for asylum, once this new system is established, acknowledging current challenges with data format.
Government Equalities Office
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9 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Establish impartiality training for interpreters and enhance interviewer training to avoid SOGI stereotypes.
We recommend the Home Office establish a programme of religious impartiality and LGBT sensitivity training for all language interpreters on its approved list. We further recommend the Department review and enhance its training of asylum interviewers on avoiding application of … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects establishing a training programme for interpreters, stating they cannot mandate it for non-Home Office employees but note they adhere to a code of conduct. However, it states it has already redesigned its training program for asylum decision-makers, emphasizing sensitive exploration of sexual and gender identity.
Government Equalities Office
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22 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Home Office compliance failures endanger pregnant asylum seekers and new mothers during accommodation moves.
The Home Office is too often failing to comply with guidance on moving pregnant women and new mothers between asylum accommodation settings. The guidance is clear that such moves are potentially harmful and should only be made where advice on … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the vulnerability of pregnant women and new mothers and states that it has updated internal guidance to make clear the requirement to record and monitor moves of these women between asylum accommodation settings.
Government Equalities Office
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23 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Stop moving pregnant asylum seekers and new mothers without clinical consent and collect related data.
The Home Office must stop moving pregnant women and new mothers between asylum accommodation settings unless clinical advice has been sought and acted on, the mother has consented to a move, and it is in the mother’s and baby’s best … Read more
Government Response
The government states its policy is that moves should only be made where safety advice has been sought from a clinician and acted on and that they have updated internal guidance to improve data collection and monitoring of moves for pregnant women and new mothers but does not address the request to publish that data.
Government Equalities Office
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26 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Abandon plans for detaining asylum-seeking children and mitigate risks for vulnerable adults in detention.
The prolonged detention with no certainty of release of asylum-seeking people who pose no threat to the public and for whom there is little prospect of removal from the UK is potentially harmful, impractical and costly. We are deeply concerned … Read more
Government Response
The government confirms its commitment to the Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention policy to mitigate harm to vulnerable adults. However, it rejects abandoning the detention of asylum-seeking children, instead outlining limited circumstances under the Illegal Migration Act where such detention may occur, and noting that children will mostly be transferred to local authority care with provisions for early immigration bail.
Government Equalities Office
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27 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Collect and publish data on protected characteristics of detained asylum seekers.
Monitoring and mitigating adverse effects of detention on groups of asylum seekers with vulnerabilities arising from Equality Act protected characteristics requires much improved data. The Government should collect and publish data on the protected characteristics of detained asylum seekers, including … Read more
Government Response
The government states it already publishes data on some protected characteristics like age, sex, nationality, and pregnant women in detention, along with length and place of detention. It acknowledges methodological challenges in collecting full protected characteristics data but is actively working on understanding this and developing a new caseworking system (Atlas) to improve data recording.
Government Equalities Office
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30 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Abandon any intention of forcibly removing asylum-seeking children to Rwanda.
We believe the risks of harm to children arising from the removal process outweigh any risks of damaging the intended deterrent effect of the Rwanda policy. The Government should abandon any intention of forcibly removing children to Rwanda.
Government Response
The government does not abandon the intention but states that unaccompanied children will only be removed in very limited circumstances and only once they reach adulthood. Children would only be relocated as part of family groups, subject to a further assessment of Rwanda’s capacity.
Government Equalities Office
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31 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Publish disaggregated equality data on all individuals within the Rwanda removal process and monitoring plans.
Should removals to Rwanda be operationalised after the legal challenges are complete, the Government must record and publish full equality data, disaggregated by Equality Act protected characteristics, of people issued with a notice of intent; people issued with a notice … Read more
Government Response
The government publishes some statistics and acknowledges challenges in collecting full disaggregated equality data, stating active work is underway to improve this with a new case working system. It confirms that a joint committee and an independent monitoring committee have been established to monitor the relocation process and ensure those removed do not suffer harm, with the independent committee publishing annual reports.
Government Equalities Office
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33 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Set out urgent plans for Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme Pathway 2, including clear arrival targets.
In contrast to the generally positive experiences of many Syrians who came to the UK via the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, many Afghan refugees’ experiences of resettlement have been fraught with difficulty. While some of the early issues were a … Read more
Government Response
The government details its commitment to Pathway 2 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, noting 40 arrivals by March 2023 and having requested 2,000 referrals from UNHCR in the first year. It states it will continue to receive referrals but will manage flows based on need and accommodation availability, declining to set explicit future targets.
Government Equalities Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 36 of 23 classified
Accepted 7
Accepted in Part 9
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 1
Not Addressed 7
Rejected 8
Total 23 recs + 13 conclusions
Correspondence 8 letters
19 Apr 2023 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Immigration relating to follow-up evidence to the Committee’s inquiry on Equality and the UK asylum process
Parliament page
1 Feb 2023 To committee Response from the Director of Detention Services on further questions relating to the Derwentside visit
Parliament page
25 Jan 2023 To committee Letter from the Committee to Frances Hardy, Director of Detention Services, Immigration Enforcement, Home Office, relating to Derwentside IRC
Parliament page
18 Jan 2023 To committee Letter from the Chair to Tom Pursglove on Equality and the UK Asylum Process
Parliament page
16 Jan 2023 To committee Letter from the Director of Detention Services relating to the Committee’s visit to Derwentside
Parliament page
16 Jan 2023 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Immigration relating to the asylum inquiry
Parliament page
16 Jan 2023 From committee Letter to the Head of Detention Progression and Returns Command relating to the Committee’s visit to Derwentside
Parliament page
15 Jun 2022 Correspondence from EHRC regarding of a report into the experience and treatment of low paid ethnic minority workers in health and adult social care
Parliament page