London, Aug 25 (PTI): The UK government has declared plans to establish an independent entity to expedite decisions on asylum appeals and address a growing backlog. This initiative aims to revamp the decision-making process regarding the granting of asylum to refugees in the UK. It seeks to accelerate the deportation of those not granted asylum and eliminate the use of hotels as temporary housing for asylum seekers awaiting the outcome of their appeals, a contentious issue prompting significant public demonstrations.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stressed the determination to significantly reduce the number of individuals in the asylum system as part of the strategy to eliminate asylum hotels. She criticized the previous Conservative administration for the existing backlog. "We inherited an asylum system in turmoil, with a surging backlog and dysfunctional appeals system that kept individuals in the process for extended periods," Cooper remarked. Practical measures are being implemented to reform the system's foundation, establishing order and control. Since the election, there has been a 24% reduction in the backlog of initial decision-waiting asylum seekers and a 30% increase in the return of rejected asylum seekers.
Emphasizing the unacceptably protracted delays in appeals, Cooper highlighted the substantial cost to taxpayers. The new appeals system overhaul aims to create an independent, rapid, and equitable process. A newly proposed body will be fully autonomous, maintaining high standards through independent adjudicators proficiently trained in asylum appeals. This establishment will have statutory authority to prioritize cases in asylum accommodation and concerning foreign national offenders.
The Home Office's data indicates a significant backlog of 106,000 cases pending before the First-Tier Tribunal system, with at least 51,000 involving asylum appeals. The average wait time has escalated to 53 weeks; most appeals and decisions at the initial level extend for over a year. In response, the UK government will enforce a 24-week timeline requirement for asylum appeal determinations concerning individuals in asylum accommodation and foreign offenders. The UK plans to adopt faster appeal system practices from other European nations where independent appeal entities operate outside the central judicial systems.
Amid active protests regarding asylum seeker accommodations, the Labour government is highlighting its actions since the July general election. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration notes that, at the previous government's peak, over 400 hotels housed asylum seekers in summer 2023, incurring a daily cost of nearly 9 million pounds. Currently, the number stands at just over 200 hotels, and more efficient uses of these accommodations have led to an 11% reduction in asylum-related expenses.
The Home Office proclaimed a surge in asylum decision-making capabilities, with over 31,000 quarterly initial decisions, triple the former government's average. The backlog has decreased by 18%, with a 24% reduction in individuals awaiting decisions—marking the third-highest quarterly decision rate since record-keeping commenced in 2002. Further specifics of the fast-track plans for the asylum system will be unveiled shortly.
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