Baroness Lister Questions Government on the Impact of Asylum and Settlement Policies on Child Poverty

RAMP Associate Baroness Lister had an Oral Question in the Lords today where she asked what assessment the government has made of the impact of proposed changes in asylum and settlement policies on their strategies to tackle child poverty and homelessness

The changes include making refugee status temporary—subject to review every 30 months—extending the route to settlement from five to 20 years, and replacing Indefinite Leave to Remain with an “earned settlement” model that sets a baseline qualifying period of 10 years, adjustable against fixed criteria.

Charities and civil society organisations have raised concerns that the changes could increase child poverty by extending the time children spend without secure immigration status. They note that delays to settlement could affect children’s longer-term access to higher education, student finance, and employment opportunities, with analysis from the Institute for Public Policy Research suggesting that nearly 300,000 children could be impacted. In addition, continued restrictions on access to public funds while on longer routes to settlement could leave families at increased risk of poverty without support, including those working in essential sectors such as social care.

Baroness Lister speaking in the Lords Chamber

Baroness Lister referred to a recent Home Affairs Select Committee report warning that the proposals could increase child poverty and that the government would need to “understand and mitigate” any such impact. She called on the government to publish an assessment of the effects of its policies on child poverty and homelessness. 

She also asked them to review and ease the no recourse to public funds” rules, actual and proposed, to meet the child poverty strategy’s commitment to ensuring that vulnerable migrant children receive the support that they require, regardless of immigration status. 

Lord Hanson speaking in the Lords Chamber

In response, the Lords Home Office Minister, Lord Hanson  stated that support would remain available for those in need and that ministers are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to assess the potential impacts of the policies on child poverty and homelessness. He added that the government is reviewing the 200,000 consultation responses to inform its next steps.