Nationality and Borders Bill — After Clause 12 — Changes to the Immigration Act 1971 — Asylum Applicants — Right to Work — 20 Apr 2022 at 17:48

The majority of MPs voted not to allow those seeking asylum, and their adult dependents, to work if a decision on their application has not been made within six months.

MPs were considering the Nationality and Borders Bill.^[1][2][3]

The motion supported by the majority of MPs in this vote was:

• That this House disagrees with Lords amendment 7B.

Lords amendment 7B^[4] provided that those seeking asylum, and their adult dependents, would be permitted to work if a decision on their application has not been made within six months.

The previous position was that permission to work was required, and it was only granted^[5]:

• * to individuals who had waited over 12 months for an initial decision on their asylum claim or for a response to a further submission for asylum
• * where individuals were not considered responsible for the delay in consideration of their application
• * to permit work at "graduate level" in jobs on the UK’s shortage occupation list.

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• [1] Parliament's webpage on the Nationality and Borders Bill, Parliament.uk
• [2] Nationality and Borders Bill, as brought to the House of Lords, from the Commons, on 9 December 2021, Parliament.uk
• [3] Explanatory notes to the Nationality and Borders Bill, as brought to the House of Lords, from the Commons, on 9 December 2021, Parliament.uk
• [4] Lords Message in connection with the Nationality and Borders Bill on 5 April 2022, Parliament.uk
• [5] Asylum seekers: the permission to work policy, House of Commons Research Briefing, 21 January, 2021, Parliament.uk

Debate in Parliament |