Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 2 January (HL12929), whether they plan to allow asylum seekers who are awaiting a decision after 12 months to apply for any job, including those not contained in the immigration salary list and the shortage occupation list.

Under the current system, permission to work for asylum seekers remains restricted to applying for roles on the Immigration Salary List, to protect the integrity of the asylum system and avoid creating incentives for irregular migration. Asylum seekers can undertake volunteering activities in charitable or public sector organisations, so long as it does not amount to unpaid work.