Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time it takes is between an asylum seeker applying for an initial screening interview and them receiving one.

The Nationality and Borders Act (NABA) became law on 28 April 2022. This new, ground-breaking legislation replaces a decades old system. It will deter illegal entry into the UK, breaking the business model of people-smuggling networks, and speed up the removal of those with no right to be in the UK. This will free up the asylum system so we can better support those in genuine need of asylum through safe and legal routes.

At the same time, we are investing in a programme of transformation and business improvement initiatives to speed up decision making, reduce the time people spend in the asylum system and decrease the number of people who are awaiting an interview or decision.

On the 24 June 2022, 466 had asylum screening appointments scheduled, which was 11.5% of those awaiting an appointment. Since 28 June 2022, the National Asylum Intake Unit will schedule 65% of appointments within 10 days of registering an asylum claim.