In accordance with current legislation, people with a valid pending claim for asylum are permitted to remain in the UK while their claim is being processed, and as they have permission to remain in the UK during that time, they cannot be routinely detained. Detention is primarily used to facilitate removal of those who have no lawful right to remain in the UK, and who refuse to leave voluntarily.

Those in the asylum system who have valid leave may be subject to conditions under section 71 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. Asylum Seekers who have no leave to be in the UK, who are not detained, will be placed on immigration bail with strict conditions set under Schedule 10 to the Immigration Act 2016.

The conditions imposed are considered on a case-by-case basis and can include requirements on where a person must live, as well as obligations to maintain regular contact with the Home Office. This may include reporting in person, by telephone or digitally, and notifying the Home Office of any changes to contact details. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in further immigration enforcement action including immigration detention.

We recognise that achieving a sustainable improvement in quality requires a cultural shift towards a shared, collective responsibility across all those working within the asylum system. We have introduced a refreshed governance structure and have appointed an SCS Quality lead for asylum, supported by thematic leads to bridge operational and assurance functions.

Alongside this, a refreshed quality framework has been introduced, with technical staff being upskilled on the tools. Improved collaborative working with appeals colleagues will provide feedback for decision making staff and provide data to drive quality improvements.

There are a number of initiatives and working groups for colleagues to be involved in which will ensure that staff at all levels are engaged, supported, and empowered to contribute to consistently higher quality decision making.

The Home Office is returning Cameron Barracks to the Ministry of Defence and the transfer will be completed on or before the agreed hand back date of October 2026.

As responsibility for the site will then rest with the Ministry of Defence, decisions on its future use, including any timetable for reopening and any notifications to Highland Council or other interested parties, will be matters for the Ministry of Defence.

The number and demographic profile of people claiming asylum varies across Europe with some nationalities claiming more in certain countries. This may be linked to factors including language, existing diasporas in these countries, the routes taken to reach them, and the likelihood of being granted refugee permission.

Published data on people claiming asylum in the UK compared to the EU+ is available in ‘How does the UK compare with the EU+?’ of ‘How many people claim asylum in the UK?’.

The number and demographic profile of people claiming asylum varies across Europe with some nationalities claiming more in certain countries. This may be linked to factors including language, existing diasporas in these countries, the routes taken to reach them, and the likelihood of being granted refugee permission.

Published data on people claiming asylum in the UK compared to the EU+ is available in ‘How does the UK compare with the EU+?’ of ‘How many people claim asylum in the UK?’.

The Immigration and Asylum Bill introduces the principle that, where a person has received taxpayer-funded asylum support and later becomes financially able to contribute towards those costs, it is right and fair that they should do so.

Contribution levels will be designed to be fair and proportionate. The payment will take the form of a flat-rate charge, with eligible adults paying off an amount above a set threshold. Payments will be linked to receiving settled status in this country. Those who have received support and been removed from the country will not be able to return until their debt is repaid.

The detailed design of the scheme, including repayment thresholds, exemptions, repayment rates, mechanisms for collection and operational delivery, will be set out in secondary legislation. Draft regulations will be shared during the passage of the Immigration and Asylum Bill through Parliament.

As these elements have not yet been finalised, it would be premature to provide an estimate of the administrative cost of the scheme, future revenue, or a specific repayment amount. An estimate will be calculated once the detailed design of the scheme is finalised.

The Immigration and Asylum Bill introduces the principle that, where a person has received taxpayer-funded asylum support and later becomes financially able to contribute towards those costs, it is right and fair that they should do so.

Contribution levels will be designed to be fair and proportionate. The payment will take the form of a flat-rate charge, with eligible adults paying off an amount above a set threshold. Payments will be linked to receiving settled status in this country. Those who have received support and been removed from the country will not be able to return until their debt is repaid.

The detailed design of the scheme, including repayment thresholds, exemptions, repayment rates, mechanisms for collection and operational delivery, will be set out in secondary legislation. Draft regulations will be shared during the passage of the Immigration and Asylum Bill through Parliament.

As these elements have not yet been finalised, it would be premature to provide an estimate of the administrative cost of the scheme, future revenue, or a specific repayment amount. An estimate will be calculated once the detailed design of the scheme is finalised.

The Immigration and Asylum Bill introduces the principle that, where a person has received taxpayer-funded asylum support and later becomes financially able to contribute towards those costs, it is right and fair that they should do so.

Contribution levels will be designed to be fair and proportionate. The payment will take the form of a flat-rate charge, with eligible adults paying off an amount above a set threshold. Payments will be linked to receiving settled status in this country. Those who have received support and been removed from the country will not be able to return until their debt is repaid.

The detailed design of the scheme, including repayment thresholds, exemptions, repayment rates, mechanisms for collection and operational delivery, will be set out in secondary legislation. Draft regulations will be shared during the passage of the Immigration and Asylum Bill through Parliament.

As these elements have not yet been finalised, it would be premature to provide an estimate of the administrative cost of the scheme, future revenue, or a specific repayment amount. An estimate will be calculated once the detailed design of the scheme is finalised.

The Immigration and Asylum Bill introduces the principle that, where a person has received taxpayer-funded asylum support and later becomes financially able to contribute towards those costs, it is right and fair that they should do so.

Contribution levels will be designed to be fair and proportionate. The payment will take the form of a flat-rate charge, with eligible adults paying off an amount above a set threshold. Payments will be linked to receiving settled status in this country. Those who have received support and been removed from the country will not be able to return until their debt is repaid.

The detailed design of the scheme, including repayment thresholds, exemptions, repayment rates, mechanisms for collection and operational delivery, will be set out in secondary legislation. Draft regulations will be shared during the passage of the Immigration and Asylum Bill through Parliament.

As these elements have not yet been finalised, it would be premature to provide an estimate of the administrative cost of the scheme, future revenue, or a specific repayment amount. An estimate will be calculated once the detailed design of the scheme is finalised.

The Home Office is in the early stages of assessing the feasibility of using the MOD Linton-on-Ouse site and no decision has been made on whether it will be used to accommodate asylum seekers. No planning application has been submitted. The submission of any planning application would form part of the process of assessing whether the site is suitable for use. A final decision on whether to proceed would be taken only once all relevant assessments had been completed and any necessary approvals, including planning permissions and other consents, had been secured.

Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data. These reviews allow us to balance the production of our regular statistics whilst developing new statistics for future release.

Asylum statistics are published quarterly in the Home Office’s Immigration System Statistics, but they do not identify the specific UK location where a claim is made, the countries individuals claiming asylum travelled from before entering the UK, or a Northern Ireland breakdown of the means by which people entered the UK.

On 01 July 2026 Minister Norris responded to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and provided operational management information which indicates that 1,517 asylum claims were made in 2025 where that claim could be associated with a location in Northern Ireland. This data has not been subject to the same level of assurance as official statistics, and it is subject to change as it has been taken from live operational systems.

This letter is published online: committees.parliament.uk/publications/53976/documents/300881/default/

Asylum seekers are routinely asked to outline their journey to the UK during their screening interview. The published Screening and routing guidance (pp.70 – 73) lists the type of questions asylum seekers are asked at screening, and provides additional guidance to the interviewing officer.

Information on the means of entering the UK, including countries individuals travelled from before entering the UK, or the specific building they claimed asylum at is held in individual case files and case notes. This information is “free-text” and could only be retrieved through a manual review of cases which would involve a disproportionate use of resource.

The Government takes its safeguarding responsibilities towards children extremely seriously.

Unaccompanied children may only be detained in very limited and exceptional circumstances, and the law places strict constraints on that detention. They may not be held in an Immigration Removal Centre under any circumstances. They must be transferred into appropriate local authority care arrangements wherever possible. An unaccompanied child may only be held in a short-term holding facility for a maximum of 24 hours for the purpose of removal.

A range of safeguards are in place to minimise detention and protect child welfare. These include the requirement to prioritise cases involving children, early referral to and engagement with local authority children’s services, a statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to have regard to the need to safeguard and promote children’s welfare, and a requirement that detention is for the shortest time necessary. Decisions involving children are subject to oversight and operational guidance that is subject to ongoing review and updates to ensure the welfare and best interests of children remain a primary consideration.

The UK is closely monitoring developments regarding reports of violence and intimidation directed at migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa. We are concerned by any incidents of xenophobic violence and welcome the South African Government's public condemnation of attacks on foreign nationals and its commitment to uphold the rule of law and protect all those within its borders. We continue to engage with the South African Government and regional partners regarding these developments, including on public safety and human rights, as appropriate.

My Department has published no such guidance.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 75141 on 16 September 2025.

The decision in question was taken having regard to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 13 February 2025 (HCWS454).

Arrivals under the new safe and legal routes will start small and build over time. The number of arrivals will be carefully managed to align with the UK’s capacity to support refugees.

To prevent abuse of the routes, the Home Office will assess all applications to ensure that only those who meet the eligibility requirements can access them. Refugee status will be determined in partnership with the UNHCR, and all applicants will be subject to appropriate security, identity, and background checks before arrival in the UK.

The Home Office will also retain control over who can sponsor, setting clear criteria to be met by sponsor groups and undertaking monitoring and assurance to ensure sponsorship arrangements are safe, effective and deliver positive outcomes. Where concerns about misuse, fraud or non-compliance are identified, appropriate action will be taken.

Arrivals under the new safe and legal routes will start small and build over time. The number of arrivals will be carefully managed to align with the UK’s capacity to support refugees.

To prevent abuse of the routes, the Home Office will assess all applications to ensure that only those who meet the eligibility requirements can access them. Refugee status will be determined in partnership with the UNHCR, and all applicants will be subject to appropriate security, identity, and background checks before arrival in the UK.

The Home Office will also retain control over who can sponsor, setting clear criteria to be met by sponsor groups and undertaking monitoring and assurance to ensure sponsorship arrangements are safe, effective and deliver positive outcomes. Where concerns about misuse, fraud or non-compliance are identified, appropriate action will be taken.

These clauses will allow for faster progression of appeals. This will introduce greater efficiency into the system, by encouraging earlier disclosure, while maintaining fairness, independence and ensuring justice is done.