A Bill to introduce a minimum period of 56 days after an asylum claim is determined before an asylum claim is considered to be determined for the purposes of ending asylum support; to make provision about the serving of documentation relevant to the ending of asylum support following an asylum determination; and connected purposes.
House of Lords
16 June 2025
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The bill would create a minimum 56-day period after an asylum claim is determined before a claimant is treated as no longer needing asylum support, replacing the previous 28-day period. It also requires the ending-of-support notices to show when support stops and ties these rules to existing immigration protections, with different start dates coming into force in stages. In the Lords, it has sparked debate and amendments, particularly around tying the extended period to biometric residence documents and whether the extension should proceed at all.
The bill has progressed to the Lords’ Report Stage after passing First and Second Readings and Committee scrutiny. Amendments have been tabled (including on biometric documentation and the timing of the extension), with some proposals withdrawn or still under consideration, so the policy position remains actively debated in Parliament.
Generated 21 February 2026
6 Sept 2024
13 Dec 2024
13 Jun 2025
Showing agreed, defeated, and withdrawn amendments.
Committee stage – line by line examination of the bill – took place on 13 June.
What happens next?
Report stage – a further chance to closely scrutinise elements of the bill and make changes – is yet to be scheduled.
The Lords’ marshalling list shows amendments to the Asylum Support (Prescribed Period) Bill [HL] aimed at blocking the proposed extension of asylum support from 28 to 56 days (opposing Clauses 1 and 3). It also introduces a new clause requiring a biometric residence document to be in place before the extended period starts, and proposes changes to how and when the bill could come into force (including a potential trial period and regulation-based start date).
The amendment paper tables a new clause, 'Issuing of biometric residence document', which would delay the start of the prescribed asylum-support period until claimants have access to a biometric document that evidences leave to remain, in certain outcomes (acceptance, limited leave, or allowed appeal). It also proposes changes to Clause 4 to set when Section 1 comes into force by regulation (including a trial period) with a parliamentary annulment option, and to remove a reference in Clause 4.
The Committee found no issues to draw to the House in the Asylum Support (Prescribed Period) Bill [HL]. The main substance concerns the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill [HL], which it describes as skeleton legislation that would give Ministers broad, unfettered powers to regulate products and metrology, including creating criminal offences and repealing or replacing primary legislation, with insufficient justification or scrutiny. It recommends removing these powers (clauses 1–3, 5–6 and 9) or subjecting them to stronger scrutiny (likely an affirmative procedure) and demands a full explanation of what existing laws would be replaced; similar concerns are raised for the metrology provisions, while other private member’s Bills are not highlighted for scrutiny.
The bill amends the Asylum Support Regulations to set a minimum 56-day period for certain asylum-related determinations and notices (up from 28 days), with scope for longer periods under existing powers but not shorter than 56 where the rules apply. It also requires the decision notice to include the date on which a claimant ceases to be a supported person and aligns the notice period with the period prescribed under section 94(3) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Provisions come into force in stages (some on passage, others after three months) and the act may be cited as the Asylum Support (Prescribed Period) Act 2024.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
