The same underlying barriers to improvement of the asylum system have persisted for years, despite multiple attempts at reform. The NAO reported that past interventions were often introduced quickly in response to rising backlogs or changes in asylum policy, without sufficient consideration of wider system impacts.16 It also found that there is no formal, system-wide approach for learning from upheld appeals or from past operational 11 Letter from the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Home Office relating to the inquiry into the asylum system, dated 25 February 2026 12 Q 7 13 Q 10; Letter from the Second Permanent Secretary of the Home Office relating to the inquiry into the asylum system, dated 6 February 2026 14 Qq 3, 6, 11 15 Letter from the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Home Office relating to the inquiry into the asylum system, dated 25 February 2026 16 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.6, 2.8 11 experience, limiting opportunities to improve decision quality at the first decision point. In addition, the NAO identified several long-standing barriers to case progression, including difficulties removing individuals who have exhausted their appeal rights, resulting in some people remaining in the system for extended periods.17