The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 1st June 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to resettle refugees through community sponsorship and humanitarian programmes.
Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab, Home Office): In the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, published in November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme and capped routes for refugee and displaced students to come to the UK to study or for work.
The delivery of the new routes will support the Government’s overall objective of providing an orderly and controlled system of safe and legal routes that is aligned with community capacity to welcome refugees.
Work is underway to deliver the new routes. Further details will be set out in due course.
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government:
- how they are monitoring the impact of the introduction of 30 month temporary protection for asylum seekers.
- how they will support the most vulnerable asylum seekers, who are granted core protection, to access work and study routes to settlement.
Lord Hanson of Flint: The Government is committed to keeping all aspects of the asylum system under regular review, including the impact of introducing 30‑month temporary permission to stay under the core protection model.
Equalities considerations are at the front and centre of our work. As required through the Public Sector Equality Duty, Home Office officials consider equality impacts throughout the policy development process, and the impact that asylum reforms will have on those with protected characteristics, is no exception.
Where possible, individuals granted core protection will be encouraged to move onto the protection work and study route, which provides a pathway towards longer‑term residence and settlement.
At the same time, in line with the UK’s international obligations, no one will be removed to their country of origin, or any other country, where they have a well‑founded fear of persecution or are at risk of serious harm.
The Home Office is carefully considering the appropriate pathways for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, asylum-seeking families with children, and other vulnerable asylum seekers.
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 24 March (HL15469), whether the Home Office has commissioned a second external peer review of the National Centre for Social Research evaluation of the pilot move on period for newly recognised refugees; and if so, when they expect that peer review to be completed.
Lord Hanson of Flint: The independent evaluation led by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has undergone external peer review as part of the publication process, including the requirement for two satisfactory external peer reviews.
Publication is expected in Spring 2026, subject to Ministerial clearance.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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