Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of restrictions to work on asylum seekers whose applications take longer than six months to process.

Asylum seekers are not allowed to work in the UK unless their claim has been outstanding for at least 12 months through no fault of their own. The policy is designed to protect the resident labour market so that access to employment is prioritised for British citizens and lawful residents, including those granted refugees status.

Asylum seekers do not need to work whilst their claim is considered – they are provided with accommodation and support to meet their essential living needs if they would otherwise be destitute.