Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what assessment has her department made of the risks to asylum seekers with no state support from exploitation by organised crime.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Asylum seekers are not eligible for mainstream benefits (such as universal credit) which are available to British citizens and other permanent residents. However, if they would otherwise be destitute, the Home Office currently has a legal duty to offer support, which generally consist of providing accommodation and a cash allowance to cover their essential living needs.
We will be revoking that duty, restoring a discretionary power for the Home Office to offer support, as previously provided under UK law.
We will deny support to those who are able to support themselves, or have deliberately made themselves destitute. We will remove support from those who fail to comply with UK law or conditions of support.
Details of how eligibility considerations will apply will be set out in published guidance in due course.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, who will hold the discretionary power to decide if asylum seekers can receive benefits.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Asylum seekers are not eligible for mainstream benefits (such as universal credit) which are available to British citizens and other permanent residents. However, if they would otherwise be destitute, the Home Office currently has a legal duty to offer support, which generally consist of providing accommodation and a cash allowance to cover their essential living needs.
We will be revoking that duty, restoring a discretionary power for the Home Office to offer support, as previously provided under UK law.
We will deny support to those who are able to support themselves, or have deliberately made themselves destitute. We will remove support from those who fail to comply with UK law or conditions of support.
Details of how eligibility considerations will apply will be set out in published guidance in due course.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of supporting work asylum seekers who do not qualify for benefits on local authority spending.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Asylum seekers are not eligible for mainstream benefits (such as universal credit) which are available to British citizens and other permanent residents. However, if they would otherwise be destitute, the Home Office currently has a legal duty to offer support, which generally consist of providing accommodation and a cash allowance to cover their essential living needs.
We will be revoking that duty, restoring a discretionary power for the Home Office to offer support, as previously provided under UK law.
We will deny support to those who are able to support themselves, or have deliberately made themselves destitute. We will remove support from those who fail to comply with UK law or conditions of support.
Details of how eligibility considerations will apply will be set out in published guidance in due course.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department is using to determine the correct financial remuneration for assisted voluntary return.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
All criteria for accessing support to return is set out on the Voluntary Returns Service webpage at Get help to return home if you’re a migrant in the UK: Who can get help - GOV.UK
We are planning to pilot an increased financial package for a limited time for those willing to return home voluntarily, saving the taxpayer money on costly asylum accommodation. We have not yet alighted on the full sums involved or eligibility criteria.
Voluntary removals save the UK taxpayer money on expensive asylum accommodation and costs of detention, appeals, and other legal challenges are also significantly reduced.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what payment package her Department is considering as part of assisted voluntary return.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
All criteria for accessing support to return is set out on the Voluntary Returns Service webpage at Get help to return home if you’re a migrant in the UK: Who can get help - GOV.UK
We are planning to pilot an increased financial package for a limited time for those willing to return home voluntarily, saving the taxpayer money on costly asylum accommodation. We have not yet alighted on the full sums involved or eligibility criteria.
Voluntary removals save the UK taxpayer money on expensive asylum accommodation and costs of detention, appeals, and other legal challenges are also significantly reduced.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department will use to designate a country as safe.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The asylum and returns policy statement sets out the intention to deal swiftly with unmeritorious protection claims that are made by nationals of manifestly safe countries in an attempt to frustrate their removal. In this context, an unmeritorious claim is one which is so lacking in merit that it can be appropriately considered following a single interview.
This policy does not relate to any designation of a specific country as manifestly safe, but rather a holistic assessment of whether there is a basis on which a prolonged assessment of a claim is required, for example through an additional interview. This is distinct from existing legislative provisions (under s94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002) which allow all or part of a country to be designated as safe, for the purposes of assessing whether a claim should be certified as clearly unfounded.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how does her department define an "unmeritous" asylum claim.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The asylum and returns policy statement sets out the intention to deal swiftly with unmeritorious protection claims that are made by nationals of manifestly safe countries in an attempt to frustrate their removal. In this context, an unmeritorious claim is one which is so lacking in merit that it can be appropriately considered following a single interview.
This policy does not relate to any designation of a specific country as manifestly safe, but rather a holistic assessment of whether there is a basis on which a prolonged assessment of a claim is required, for example through an additional interview. This is distinct from existing legislative provisions (under s94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002) which allow all or part of a country to be designated as safe, for the purposes of assessing whether a claim should be certified as clearly unfounded.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, under what circumstances will refugees on core protection status be able to reunite with children under the age of 18.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The earned settlement consultation launched on 20 November 2025.