Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2023 to Question 192551 on Asylum: Applications, what steps her Department has taken to streamline the processes used when assessing asylum applications.

We have taken immediate action to speed up asylum processing whilst maintaining the integrity of the system. This includes simplifying guidance, reducing interview length and streamlining processes.

When they make their asylum claim, all individuals will continue to undergo mandatory security checks during the screening interview.

Targeted interviews will concentrate on the individual’s nationality whilst shorter interviews will concentrate on a small number of material facts. These will be much shorter than substantive interviews and are more efficient.

There may be occasions where an individual will need to be referred for a substantive interview as is current practice, for example where there are criminality or security, or significant credibility concerns.

The duration of the interview is recorded in the interview transcript.