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Written question asked by Tulip Siddiq (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 May 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 June 2020. It was answered by Chris Philp (Conservative) on Monday, 8 June 2020 on behalf of the Home Office.

Asylum: Interviews

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum interviews have been cancelled due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Answer

The Home Office takes the wellbeing of asylum seekers extremely seriously and has already put in place a range of measures to support asylum seekers affected by the covid-19 outbreak. In line with the Home Office’s commitment to protect the health and wellbeing of its staff and customers as a top priority, Asylum Operations made the decision to cease face to face substantive asylum interviews with effect from Thursday 19th March 2020.

This meant that a small number of interviews were cancelled, and no interviews have been scheduled since this date. It is not possible to say how many interviews would have taken place had the pandemic not occurred.

Asylum Operations have secured a mobile digital and video interviewing solution to support remote interviewing and are working with delivery partners, to enable the use of this technology. We remain committed to restarting substantive asylum interviews as soon we can establish a process that allows the participants - applicants, representatives, interpreters and interviewers - to do so safely.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
49791
Session
2019-21
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Asylum Interviews Standards Coronavirus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk