Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support her Department provides for asylum claimants required to complete an Asylum Claim Questionnaire where (a) English is not their first language and (b) they are living with a mental health condition; and whether her Department has made an assessment of the impact on the mental health of claimants of the requirement to complete that Questionnaire within 20 working days, .

The asylum claim questionnaires are in English as is generally the case for immigration paperwork across the Department. Claimants can utilise legal representatives, Non-Government Organisations and other support networks to help them respond to the questionnaire. All asylum seekers are entitled to legal representation to support them, including with translation, through Legal Aid.

Throughout the asylum decision making process, we aim to ensure that vulnerable claimants are identified. That difficulties they may face in disclosing their experiences are given due consideration and that they are given help in accessing appropriate services. Extensions can be requested where the timeframe cannot be met, for example because of a mental health condition which is impacting their ability to respond to the questionnaire. This will be considered on a case-by-case basis.