Oral Answers to Questions

Patricia Ferguson Excerpts

Monday 31st March 2025 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow West) (Lab)]

1. If she will review the pause in decisions on Syrian asylum claims.

[The Minister for Border Security and Asylum (Dame Angela Eagle)]

We wish Mr Speaker all the best on his extremely important visit to our parliamentary colleagues in Ukraine. Following the fall of the Assad regime, the Home Office withdrew the country policy and information note and guidance on Syria and temporarily paused interviews and decisions on Syrian asylum claims. This was, and remains, a necessary step that several other European countries have also taken. The pause is under constant review, and when there is a clear basis on which to make decisions, we will start processing claims again.

[Patricia Ferguson]

I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that the UK Government, together with the international community, are looking for a peaceful solution in Syria that puts the people of Syria first. Organisations working with the Syrian communities in Scotland, such as the Scottish Refugee Council, have reported a sense of heightened anxiety among Syrians currently in the asylum system, and wonder whether people seeking protection should be kept in limbo any longer than is necessary. There are also concerns that the pause in decision making may increase the backlog of asylum cases, contributing to the legacy backlog left by the Conservative Government.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Order. Ms Ferguson, is there an actual question?

[Patricia Ferguson]

There certainly is. Is my hon. Friend able to give a timeline for her decision making?

[Dame Angela Eagle]

I understand the heightened anxiety among Syrian asylum seekers, but the Home Office relies on the country information in order to make decisions on whether particular people need protection, and that information is currently in the middle of quite profound change. When we are in a position to make decisions against new, more up-to-date information, we will certainly do so. I hope the Syrian community will be patient and not too anxious about the pause currently in place.