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 the refugee family reunion rules on the capacity of refugees to integrate fully in the UK.

We support the principle of family unity and recognise that reuniting refugees in the UK with their immediate family can help with the integration process by providing support to participate in the economic, social, cultural, civil and political life of this country.

Our family reunion policy has seen over 24,000 family reunion visas granted in the last five years.

Refugees and those who benefit from family reunion visas are entitled to broadly the same rights and benefits as British citizens, including access to the labour market and mainstream benefits to support their integration. Refugees are also able to apply for an integration loan.