Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to review the policy to prevent asylum seekers from working while awaiting a decision on their applications; and what assessment they have made of providing this opportunity to applicants who are victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.

Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, can apply for permission to work in jobs on the Immigration Salary List.

Where a victim of modern slavery is seeking asylum, we may allow earlier permission to work on an exceptional basis. In these cases, consideration will be given to that individual’s physical, psychological and social recovery.