Bishop of Chelmsford asks about recent statements by former Home Secretary on churches and asylum claims

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 18th March 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what statistical evidence is held by the Home Office to support the claim made by former Home Secretary in the Daily Telegraph on 3 February that between 6 September 2022 and 13 November 2023, she “became aware of churches around the country facilitating industrial-scale bogus asylum claims”.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con, Home Office): Every asylum claim is determined on its individual merits in line with our published policy and guidance. There are a small number of recent cases which have raised concerns that not all conversions are necessarily genuine and it is right we work with faith leaders to better understand these cases.

We are unable to comment further on the former Home Secretary’s remarks. She was reshuffled on 13th November 2023.

Hansard