Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to ensure that the United Kingdom is meeting its international obligations towards asylum seekers and refugees, and (2) to improve the asylum application process.

All asylum claims are given full and careful consideration so that we do not remove anyone who faces persecution or serious harm on return to their country of origin.

Claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly, and fairly including reducing the cost to the taxpayer.

The Home Office continues to invest in a programme of transformation and business improvement initiatives to speed up and simplify decision making, reduce the time spent in the asylum system and decrease the number of people who are awaiting an interview or decision. This will enable us to maximise our capacity and progress cases in a more efficient and cost-effective way.

Across asylum decision making, we are continuing to increase the use of technology to improve screening so more information is captured as early as possible.