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1125250

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the mental health of asylum seekers of the decision to abolish the six-month target for processing straightforward asylum claims.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	252010
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>In line with our ambition to promote a greater understanding and transparency of the asylum system and to develop service standards that are meaningful and command confidence, plans are underway for UKVI to implement new service standards for asylum case working. This change means UKVI will be moving away from the six-month service standard for straightforward cases which was introduced in 2014.</p><p>It had become clear that the current service standard no longer best served those that used our services and a number of stakeholders had been concerned that not all cases were captured by it.</p><p>For these reasons, it has been agreed to change how Asylum Operations prioritise their workload. This means, in the short term, Asylum Operations will reprioritise cases by focusing on claims with acute vulnerability and those in receipt of the greatest level of support, including Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC). Additionally, cases where an individual has already received a decision, but a reconsideration is required, will also be prioritised. The implications of the change on applicants have been considered and appropriate mitigations put in place, with the most vulnerable groups being prioritised as appropriate.</p><p>The intention is for this approach to bring balance back to the asylum system while steps are taken to increase the capacity of the asylum decision making system and focus on process improvements to deliver better quality decisions more efficiently.</p><p>To come to a longer-term arrangement for service standards that meet the needs of those seeking asylum and the country, UKVI have engaged with key partners in the Strategic Engagement Group (SEG) and other NGOs to redesign the way in which claims are prioritised. This engagement started on 4 December 2018 and over 100 organisations were invited to service standards workshops, which included members of SEG and National Asylum Stakeholder Forum (NASF) sub groups. 41 organisations out of the 100 attended workshops nationally.</p><p>We aim to ensure that we design our new service standards to deliver a world leading immigration service for those seeking asylum in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes grouped question UIN 252009 question first answered 16/05/2019 14:50:13 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1385554

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect of offshore asylum processing on the mental health of people claiming asylum.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	87582
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2021 answer text <p>The Nationality and Borders Bill, which is part of our New Plan for Immigration, seeks to build a fair, but firm asylum and illegal migration system.</p><p>On 16 September, we published an Equality Impact Assessment for the policies being taken forward through the Bill, which includes assessment of those who may have mental health needs. This can be found here: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fthe-nationality-and-borders-bill-equality-impact-assessment%2Fthe-nationality-and-borders-bill-equality-impact-assessment-accessible-version&amp;data=04%7C01%7CAlexandria.Bickerstaff%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Ccb650313656149131d2808d9b9718252%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637744719429208370%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=M%2FrqsBk4MKZP2C6sxJikG8HYurNGwLixrtdvh7ElGig%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">The Nationality and Borders Bill: equality impact assessment (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p>The Home Office will continue to ensure the welfare and dignity of all claimants forms a central platform of our decision-making processes.</p><p>Any vulnerabilities will be taken into consideration and every single person who is eligible for removal under this policy will be able to make representations where they are concerned the country in question would not be safe for them.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 08/12/2021 15:29:05 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1437127

	registered interest
	date	01/03/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of being held in immigration detention centres on the mental health of asylum seekers who have experienced (a) rape, (b) torture and (c) war.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
	uin	132223
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2022 answer text <p>There is no exemption from immigration detention for any particular group. However, we fully accept that some groups of individuals can be at particular risk of harm in immigration detention. This is the basis of the Adults at Risk in immigration detention (AAR) policy, which strengthens the presumption against detention for vulnerable individuals.</p><p>The policy covers a wide range of vulnerabilities and includes people who suffer from a mental health condition. It enables Home Office staff to promptly identify whether a person is vulnerable and consequently whether they should be detained. Under the policy, vulnerable people will be detained only when the evidence of vulnerability in their particular case is outweighed by the immigration considerations, including immigration compliance, criminality factors and expected date of removal. The published Detention Services Order on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/management-of-adults-at-risk-in-immigration-detention" target="_blank">Gov.uk</a> supplements the statutory AAR policy, setting out operational guidance for all Home Office, centre supplier and healthcare staff working in the immigration removal estate on the care and management of adults in detention who are identified as being at risk.</p><p>Additional safeguards are also in place for those in detention displaying such vulnerabilities, including regular reviews of detention and reporting mechanisms, such as Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 and Rule 32 of the Short-Term Holding Facility Rules 2018, to ensure that particularly vulnerable individuals are brought to the attention of those with direct responsibility for authorising, maintaining and reviewing detention.</p><p>All immigration removal centres (IRC) have dedicated health facilities run by doctors and nurses which are managed by the NHS or appropriate providers and deliver trauma informed mental health service, where appropriate. In addition to published guidance, staff at all centres are also given training and support to proactively identify and act upon indicators of vulnerability at the earliest opportunity. Welfare teams are onsite at every IRC to assist detained individuals in accessing support specific to their needs.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 09/03/2022 17:04:28 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1451848

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2022 to Question 132223 on Asylum: Mental Health, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Adults at Risk policy and other existing guidance and rules at (a) identifying asylum seekers who have experienced (i) rape and (ii) torture, and (b) ensuring their prompt release from immigration detention.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
	uin	141164
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2022 answer text <p>The Home Office regularly reviews its policies, guidance and processes. A number of mechanisms exist to identify vulnerable people in immigration detention. All individuals receive a healthcare screening within 2 hours of a person’s arrival at an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) and, unless they decline, an appointment with a doctor within 24 hours; Induction interviews with Home Office Detention Engagement Team staff include questions which seek to identify vulnerability; and Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 / Rule 32 of the Short Term Holding Facility Rules 2018 require the medical practitioner to report where they have concerns a person’s health may be injuriously affected by detention, a person may have suicidal intentions, or a person may have been a victim of torture.</p><p>The Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention (AAR) policy strengthens the presumption against the detention of those who are particularly vulnerable to harm in detention. Under the AAR policy, vulnerable individuals will be detained only when the evidence of vulnerability in their particular case is outweighed by the immigration considerations, including expected date of removal, compliance with immigration law, and public protection. Where a decision is taken to maintain the detention of a vulnerable person, safeguards are in place including regular reviews to ensure detention remains lawful, appropriate and proportionate.</p><p>All Home Office staff working in the detention system are given training and support to identify and act upon indicators of vulnerability.</p><p>Detained individuals are advised of their right to legal representation, and how they can obtain such representation, within 24 hours of their arrival at an IRC. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) operates free legal advice surgeries in IRCs in England. Individuals who are detained are entitled to receive up to 30 minutes of advice regardless of financial eligibility or the merits of their case. Legal visits can take place from both legal providers attending under the Legal Aid Detained Duty Advice Scheme and other legal providers visiting their clients who are in detention. In line with Government advice on social distancing, during the pandemic, face to face legal visits were facilitated in exceptional circumstances, and only if other means of contact (Skype, telephone, email) were not feasible or appropriate. In light of changes to Government guidance, face to face legal visits can now be facilitated. Safe systems of work are in place to ensure the safety of detained individuals, onsite staff and visitors during these visits.</p><p>There is a dedicated welfare team available daily within each IRC who focus on residents’ needs and assist all detained individuals to obtain legal advice.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 141165 question first answered 24/03/2022 12:46:29 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1490191

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to protect the mental health of vulnerable asylum seekers.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	38700
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2022 answer text <p>Asylum seekers have full access to the NHS upon arrival in the UK.</p><p>All Home Office staff and contractors engaging with asylum seekers are trained to adopt a risk-based approach towards potential indications of vulnerability and to refer relevant cases onto the Safeguarding Hub, a dedicated resource assigned to identifying and safeguarding vulnerable asylum seekers.</p><p>The Safeguarding Hub works closely with the statutory agencies to signpost vulnerable customers for support with their health and social care needs.</p><p>The Government is planning to provide an additional £2.3 billion a year for mental health services by 2023/24, the largest increase in mental health funding in NHS history.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 25/07/2022 14:37:01 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally

1685094

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of (a) self-harm, (b) depression and (c) suicidal ideation have been reported by people living in government-provided asylum accommodation in (i) hotels, (ii) barges, (iii) former military sites and (iv) detention facilities and removal centres in each of the last 15 years.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	11509
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2024 answer text <p>Central records on the number of cases of self-harm and suicidal ideation that have been reported in immigration removal centres (IRCs) are not held as far back as 15 years. Additionally, no central records on the number of cases of depression reported in IRCs are held. This information relates to health conditions which are treated as medical in confidence and therefore the Home Office would not necessarily know if someone in detention was experiencing depression.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 30/01/2024 13:07:43 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens