Just 4% of asylum applications from people who cross the Channel are processed within a year, damning figures reveal today. Of these 85% were granted refugee status or another protection status, a cross-party committee of MPs was told. While their applications are being processed, asylum seekers are usually not allowed to work during the first 12 months. The government is now spending nearly £7million a day housing asylum seekers in hotels and the cost could continue to rise, the Commons Home Affairs Committee learned. MPs heard £5.6million a day was being spent on hotels for people who have arrived in the UK and have submitted a claim, along with £1.2million to house Afghan refugees who fled the Taliban while long-term accommodation is sought. Back in February the government said the daily bill was £4.7million. Officials told the committee 96% of asylum applications submitted by migrants crossing the Channel in 2021 are still outstanding. Of the 4% completed, 85% were granted refugee status or another protection status. Just 4% of asylum applications are processed within a year, MPs were told (file image) ( Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Dan Hobbs, director of asylum, protection and enforcement, said there is a "challenge in processing asylum claims in a timely way at present" and confirmed only a "small proportion" of last year's arrivals had been granted asylum. Asked by committee chairwoman Dame Diana Johnson if the cost was likely to go up again, Abi Tierney, director general of the passport office and UK visas and immigration, replied: "Yes." MPs learned the Home Office has only processed 4% of asylum claims by migrants who crossed the Channel last year an){kind=link}
The government is now spending nearly £7 million a day housing asylum seekers in hotels and the cost could continue to rise, the Commons Home Affairs Committee learned today
Just 4% of asylum applications from people who cross the Channel are processed within a year, damning figures reveal today.
Of these 85% were granted refugee status or another protection status, a cross-party committee of MPs was told.
While their applications are being processed, asylum seekers are usually not allowed to work during the first 12 months.
The government is now spending nearly £7million a day housing asylum seekers in hotels and the cost could continue to rise, the Commons Home Affairs Committee learned.