Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking steps to develop engagement forums with asylum seeker and refugee communities.

We regularly engage with stakeholders through standalone meetings and various forums such as the Asylum Strategic Engagement Group, which includes organisations who both speak for and represent asylum seekers.

The Asylum Lived Experience Advisory Panel (ALEAP) is a regular engagement forum, which enables refugees with recent lived experience of the UK asylum system an opportunity to discuss the impact of Home Office policies and processes across their asylum journey.

It is important that we distinguish between individuals who need protection and those seeking to work here who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules.