Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to ensure that asylum cases are determined on the basis of need without consideration of the route of arrival to the UK.

We are clear that those in genuine need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach where they have that opportunity, rather than choosing to make further unnecessary and dangerous journeys to the UK. Where appropriate, we will apply the provisions in the Immigration Rules to declare such claims inadmissible for consideration in the UK asylum system.

Where an individual is admitted for consideration to our asylum system, and they did not come directly to the UK or claim asylum without delay once here, they are likely to get a new temporary protection status if they have been recognised as requiring protection. This status will afford basic entitlements whilst still meeting our international law obligations.