Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of permitting people seeking asylum, and their adult dependants, to work in any occupation after 6 months of waiting for a decision on their claim.

Asylum seekers are not allowed to work in the UK unless their claim has been outstanding for at least 12 months through no fault of their own. The policy is designed to protect the resident labour market so that access to employment is prioritised for British citizens and lawful residents, including those granted refugee status. We have no plans to review this policy.