Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department’s policy is on accepting refugees fleeing war zones; and whether that policy has changed since the EU referendum.

Mr Robert Goodwill

There have been no changes to the policy on how we consider claims for asylum following the result of the referendum. Each asylum claim lodged in the United Kingdom is carefully considered on its individual merits based on the evidence submitted by the applicant, regardless of where the individual originates from.

However, we are under no obligation to consider asylum claims lodged outside UK territory and it is not appropriate to do so. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.

We continue to operate several resettlement schemes providing safe and legal routes to the UK for the most vulnerable refugees, including Gateway, Mandate, the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement scheme and the Vulnerable children at risk schemes. In addition, we support the principle of family unity and have several routes to enable refugees and their families to be reunited.