Minister pledges fast but fair asylum system - New asylum teams for West London and the South East

Delivering on the Home Secretary, John Reid's, promise in his review of immigration to fast track asylum decisions, the teams who are based around the UK aim, by the end of 2011, to resolve 90 per cent of new asylum cases within six months of the application being made. This will be achieved by delivering a system in which one caseworker is assigned to deal with each case from beginning to end - ensuring continuity within the system.

The Government has already made significant progress in reforming its immigration and asylum systems; annual asylum applications are at their lowest level since 1993, and the majority of initial decisions are now taken in just eight weeks. And in the first two quarters of 2006 the Government broke records for the number of failed asylum seekers successfully removed.

Liam Byrne said:

"Since becoming Immigration Minister I have travelled thousands of miles and met Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) staff from across the country who tell me they want the rules in place to do their job well and to do it fairly.

"The new asylum teams are a vital part of delivering the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's commitment to identifying and removing those who have no right to stay in the country, while protecting those who genuinely need our help.

"The new system ensures genuine refugees have their claims settled quickly, while those whose claims are unsuccessful are swiftly removed, ensuring a system which is firm, fair and meets the needs of the individual. It is in nobody's interests that asylum claims should be left unresolved for years and the Government is taking the necessary steps to ensure that doesn't happen."

During his visit the Minister met some of the 48 case owners who as part of the new teams will represent the Home Office at every stage of the decision making process from interviewing an asylum applicant to serving an initial decision and then managing integration or removal.

The Minister also took the opportunity during his visit to meet with representatives from local government and voluntary organisations and the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.