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
View on parliament.uk
Women and Equalities Committee
Dan Hobbs · Home Office Mandy Ivemy · Home Office The Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP · Home Office
15 Jun 2022
View on parliament.uk
Equality and the UK asylum process
Andy Hewett · Refugee Council Esther Baleh Jennifer Blair · Ukraine Advice Project UK Zahra Shaheer
27 Apr 2022
View on parliament.uk
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
View on parliament.uk
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
View on parliament.uk
Equality and UK asylum process
Dr S Chelvan Leila Zadeh · Rainbow Migration Professor Nuno Ferreira · University of Sussex
26 Jan 2022
View on parliament.uk
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
7 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Home Office asylum system reforms increase risks for vulnerable claimants with protected characteristics.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Government Equalities Office
View details
4 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Review and publish an action plan for implementing gender-sensitive asylum interview guidance effectively.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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
View details
12 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Asylum initial decisions are too slow, often wrong, and subject to tribunal delays.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Government Equalities Office
View details
13 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Establish comprehensive training for asylum decision-makers and improve appeal action timeliness.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Government Equalities Office
View details
28 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Ensure foreign language legal advice information and improve mobile phone reception in detention centres.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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
View details
34 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Commission and publish independent review and equality impact assessment of the Afghan refugee resettlement approach.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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
View details
36 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Equality and the U…
Monitor and mitigate safeguarding concerns within Ukrainian schemes and conduct a comprehensive review.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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
View details
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