Baroness Lister’s Bill Completes Committee Stage in the House of Lords
RAMP Associate Baroness Lister’s Asylum Support (Prescribed Period) Bill has completed the Committee Stage in the House of Lords.
The Bill aims to make it easier for newly recognised refugees to move from asylum support into regular housing and financial help.
The main change it proposes is to permanently extend the "move-on period" from 28 days to 56 days. This gives refugees more time to find a place to live, apply for benefits, and get important documents before they have to leave Home Office accommodation. The goal is to reduce homelessness, lower stress, and help refugees settle into their new lives more smoothly.
Local councils are currently participating in a pilot scheme testing the extension of the refugee move-on period, and during the debate, Baroness Lister highlighted the positive feedback from organisations involved. She highlighted a range of perspectives on the pilot’s implementation and its impact on both individuals and service providers.
According to a survey by the Local Government Association (LGA), the 56-day extension was viewed as the “single most effective measure” to improve the move-on process. The Refugee Council and several other organisations reported that the longer period had been broadly positive, although they noted some early challenges in implementation.
Charities and local bodies such as Crisis, NACCOM, and London Councils pointed to several benefits, including:
A reduction in homelessness rates
More time for refugees to prepare for independent living
Improvements in mental health and a greater sense of autonomy
Better alignment between Universal Credit payments and eviction dates, reducing the risk of destitution
Reduced strain on local services and lower staff burnout
Despite these reported advantages, concerns remain around uneven implementation across regions and systemic barriers such as delays in documentation and limited access to paid work for newly recognised refugees.
The Chartered Institute of Housing has also expressed support for the Bill and encouraged the Government to either pass the legislation or take alternative steps to ensure the 56-day period becomes a permanent part of refugee resettlement policy.
RAMP Principal Bishop Gulli, the Bishop of Chelmsford also spoke at the debate. She noted that rather than hindering the Government’s objectives, the Bill could complement efforts to build a more effective and well-managed asylum system, with integration at its core.
The Bishop also referred to feedback from local authorities and organisations working with refugees, which has been largely positive regarding the impact of the pilot scheme. For example, one region reported a 24% increase in homelessness prevention outcomes. The Helen Bamber Foundation noted that all individuals it had supported during the pilot received their first Universal Credit payment before their eviction date, helping to prevent destitution and reduce the need for emergency support from local councils.
Looking ahead, the Bishop asked for confirmation that the Government would publish the full evaluation of the pilot, including information on how the extended move-on period may have affected family stability and child poverty. She suggested that making the extension permanent could further improve service delivery by ensuring that key information and documentation are provided in a timely manner.
Baroness Lister stressed that given broad sector support, including from local authorities, and the success of the pilot, the 56-day move-on period should be permanently adopted through legislation to prevent future governments from reversing the policy without oversight.
The Bill has now entered the Report Stage, with the official date yet to be announced.