Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
What the average length of time is for her Department to process asylum applications.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Calculating an average length of time does not take into account the numerous factors that contribute to the decision-making process. Nor does it consider our prioritisation of children and the most vulnerable.
We are working to improve the speed of decisions and reduce the number of outstanding claims; but there will always be complex cases, and it is right we take time to work through them carefully, not rush to meet an arbitrary deadline.