Return of Asylum Seekers (Applications from Certain Countries) Bill

Key Points

• Allows designated countries to be treated as safe for asylum decisions.
• Requires asylum seekers arriving in the UK to be returned to a designated safe country promptly rather than having their UK asylum claims decided.
• Sets out how safe-country designations are made and how returns should be carried out under the new framework.
• Contains provisions linked to the broader aims of the bill (described as 'connected purposes') and would be subject to future scrutiny and implementation details.

Progress

The bill is at the 2nd Reading in the House of Commons, meaning it is in the early stage of parliamentary debate. If this stage passes, it would move on to committee for detailed examination and then further stages in both Houses.