Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review her Department’s policy guidance on safe return reviews for refugees applying for settlement.

There are no plans to review the safe return review policy.

Those who need protection are normally granted 5 years’ limited leave after which they are able to apply for permanent settlement. This policy has been in place since 2005 when automatic settlement for refugees was abolished.

All settlement applications are carefully considered on their individual merits and whilst we have always been clear that protection will be grated for as long as it is needed, we will assess whether there have been significant changes in country conditions or personal circumstances, which means that an individual no longer needs our protection.