Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department have taken to (a) support people who have had their asylum claim withdrawn and (b) ensure that people who have had their asylum claims withdrawn do not become victims of (i) exploitation and (ii) modern slavery.

Asylum claims may be implicitly withdrawn for a variety of reasons, for example because the claimant fails to maintain contact with the Home Office or fails to attend an asylum interview or reporting event.

All withdrawals are administered on a case-by-case basis. Claimants are given the opportunity to explain their reasons for non-compliance before their claim is to be withdrawn implicitly. Where a reasonable explanation is provided, claims will not be withdrawn.

Following withdrawal of an asylum claim, if the claimant does not otherwise have the legal right to remain in the UK, leave to remain on other grounds following a separate application or an outstanding application, they will be liable for removal. For those eligible, The Home Office Voluntary Returns Service can provide support for those required to return to their home country if they do not have permission to remain in the UK.