We call on the UK Government to retain the current five-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for recognised refugees and to fund quicker processing and decisions of Syrian asylum claims.

We believe that replacing the five-year settlement route with repeated grants of temporary leave could prolong uncertainty, hinder integration and increase costs for both refugees and the Home Office. In our view the slow processing of decisions on Syrian asylum decisions has also left many applicants waiting indefinitely. We urge the Government to maintain a fair, efficient asylum system by preserving the five-year ILR route and fund quicker processing and decisions on Syrian claims. We also call on the Government to ensure that any assessment of whether a Syrian applicant can safely return is made on an individual basis, taking account of their personal circumstances and protection needs, and is not determined solely by reference to the general situation in Syria.