Morning, Thursday, 11th February 2027
Online
This conference will examine next steps for improving the UK asylum system. Areas for discussion include policy reform, asylum decision-making and appeals, safe and legal routes, and the provision of support and accommodation.
Legislation, protection status & support reform
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to examine priorities arising from parliamentary scrutiny of the Immigration and Asylum Bill and preparations for implementation of its proposals. Discussion will be set in the context of wider reforms following the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, including the Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 1691), the Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and proposals to replace the statutory duty to provide asylum support with a discretionary power.
Delegates will discuss key issues around the implementation of changes already introduced and further development of the Core Protection model, including the proposed Protection Work and Study route, the implications of 30-month grants of permission to stay, proposed changes affecting Article 8 ECHR claims and modern slavery protections, reforms to asylum support, proposals for recovering support costs, and the rights of people seeking asylum.
Decision-making, appeals & returns
The planned agenda will assess practical considerations for improving the quality and timeliness of asylum decision-making following the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration’s inspection of asylum casework, including caseworker capability, screening and registration, evidence and credibility assessment, and approaches to reducing avoidable appeals. Attendees will consider implementation of the 24-week target for hearing specified asylum and immigration appeals, pressures on tribunal capacity, and access to legal advice and representation.
Discussion will also examine preparations for the proposed transition from the First-tier Tribunal to the Independent Immigration Appeals Authority, including proposed changes to appeal procedures, expedited handling of certain cases and the requirements for raising relevant grounds and evidence at an early stage. Delegates will consider how decision makers should assess late claims and disclosures, including where trauma, coercion or difficulties accessing advice may affect the timing of a claim, alongside the handling of refused claims and returns, including next steps following the Family Returns consultation.
Safe routes, accommodation & local impacts
Further sessions will examine the reopened UK Resettlement Scheme and preparations for implementing new safe and legal routes, including named community sponsorship, the refugee study route and the proposed refugee work route, the role of UNHCR, accreditation and safeguarding requirements, and the responsibilities of communities, universities, employers and local authorities.
Attendees will consider the future of asylum support and accommodation as the Government seeks to end the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament, including the role of dispersal and large accommodation sites, local authority and service capacity, accommodation standards and support for people with particular needs.
Discussion is also expected on whether reform can operate coherently across protection, sponsorship, accommodation and returns, and their implications for integration, local services and the sustainability of the asylum system.
Overview of areas for discussion
- policy, protection & renewal:
- Immigration and Asylum Bill - proposed changes affecting Article 8 ECHR claims and modern slavery protections
- 30-month grants of permission to stay - renewal criteria and evidence - reassessment where conditions change - casework capacity
- proposed 20-year route to settlement and switching to work and study routes
- proposed Protection Work and Study route and implications for protection entitlements - amendments on Article 8 family-life claims and late asylum claims or evidence
- managing uncertainty for refugees, employers and local services - integration, employment and housing under temporary protection
- asylum decision-making & screening:
- screening and registration for eligible claims - protection, vulnerability, identity and security checks - individual assessment and safeguards for earlier decisions
- initial-decision quality and backlog reduction - evidence and credibility assessment - caseworker training and consistency - legal advice - procedural fairness
- assessment of late claims and evidence, including safeguards for people affected by trauma, coercion or exploitation
- appeals, capacity & transition:
- 24-week appeals target and appeals backlog - tribunal capacity, representation and case preparation - quality and fairness - learning from overturned decisions to reduce avoidable appeals
- preparing for the proposed Independent Immigration Appeals Authority - case allocation, staffing and governance - adjudicator recruitment, qualifications and independence - managing parallel systems
- safe routes, sponsorship & integration:
- reopened UK Resettlement Scheme and annual caps - named community sponsorship, refugee study route and proposed refugee work route
- sponsor accreditation, eligibility, funding and safeguarding
- roles of UNHCR, universities, employers, communities and local authorities - preparing for arrivals and supporting integration
- relationship between expanded safe routes, public confidence and objectives for reducing irregular migration
- returns, support & family cases:
- next steps following the Family Returns consultation - withdrawal of support, barriers to return, local authority and care leaver support and safeguards for children and vulnerable families
- voluntary and enforced returns - case progression, documentation and cooperation with countries of return - prolonged unresolved cases
- proposed replacement of the statutory duty to provide support with a discretionary power - support conditionality and proposed recovery of support costs
- proportionality, administration and risks of destitution and pressure on local services
- accommodation, military sites & local impacts:
- replacing hotels with dispersal accommodation and larger sites, including military estate - planning, capacity, health and welfare, safeguarding and community engagement
- accommodation allocation for people with particular needs - local authority and public-service pressures - cost, standards and value for money
