Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce applicant waiting times for decisions on asylum applications.

We are fixing a broken asylum system and creating a new one which will be fairer and firmer and compassionate towards those who need our help.

There are several factors which contribute to the length of time to process asylum claims. In this context, we have developed a programme of work designed to transform the system.

We have already made significant progress in prioritising cases with acute vulnerability and those in receipt of the greatest level of support, including Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children and are working to simplify and speed up decision making.

We are continuing to develop existing and new technology to help build on recent improvements such as digital interviewing and move away from a paper-based system.