Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce the waiting period for asylum seekers to be granted the right to work to six months rather than the current 12 months.

Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, are allowed to work. Those permitted to work are restricted to jobs on the Shortage Occupation List. This is based on expert advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee.

Whilst we keep all policies under review, there are no immediate plans to change the existing policy.