In response to today’s Home Affairs Select Committee report on the work of the UK Border Agency, Refugee Action Chief Executive Dave Garratt said:

“We share the concerns of the Committee that there are still outstanding asylum claims to be resolved, despite the many legacy cases which have been cleared in recent years.

“It must be remembered that asylum is a unique part of the Agency’s work – if people have fled persecution in their home country, they have a right to remain in the UK. This is a fundamental right enshrined in international law, supported by the British principle of providing sanctuary for those who need it.

“A backlog of asylum cases means people living in limbo until their cases are decided – often in poverty or destitution. It is vital that that the Agency works on improving the decision-making process and ensuring all people seeking asylum experience a fair process and receive proper legal representation.

“After the Agency’s restructure, there is still a huge amount of work to be done. Those of us who assist asylum seekers and refugees on a day to day basis are able to offer realistic solutions which would help make the system more efficient, fair and one which has the full trust of the public”.

ENDS

For more information please contact Carys Davis at Refugee Action, on 020 7952 1561 or 07876 770122 or carysd@refugee-action.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

• Home Affairs Committee – Twenty-First Report – Work of the UK Border Agency (August – December 2011) Link
• Refugee Action is an independent, national charity working to enable refugees to build new lives. We provide practical advice and assistance for newly arrived asylum seekers and long-term commitment to their settlement through community development work, and received 30,000 visits from asylum seekers last year. As one of the country’s leading agencies in the field, Refugee Action has 30 years’ experience in pioneering innovative work in partnership with refugees.