Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that the decision-making process for asylum claims takes full account of the extent of abuse and torture which applicants may have endured.

All members of staff who make decisions in asylum receive training on international and domestic law and safeguarding issues supplemented by a mentoring programme with an experienced caseworker that can last up to 6 months. Within the training there are specific sections that detail torture and Medico Legal Reports and how they should be used and analysed in asylum claims.

The Home Office are working closely with Freedom from Torture and other key partners to review and make further improvements to the decision making process and training relating to asylum claims involving survivors of abuse and torture.