PAC warns mounting backlogs, rising costs and missing asylum seekers threaten the system.
The UK’s asylum system is approaching a critical point, with missing asylum seekers, unresolved backlogs and rising costs exposing deep-rooted failures, according to a new report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The cross-party committee warned that the Home Office and wider government have yet to establish a coherent long-term strategy capable of addressing persistent problems across the asylum system. MPs said repeated attempts to tackle individual issues have often shifted pressure elsewhere rather than delivering lasting solutions.
One of the report’s most significant findings concerns failed asylum seekers whose whereabouts are unknown to authorities. The Home Office acknowledged that it knows the location of only the “vast majority” of individuals whose claims have been rejected and cannot provide a definitive figure for how many remain in the UK or have left the country.
The committee described this lack of oversight as a serious concern and called on ministers to provide greater transparency. MPs requested details on how many failed asylum seekers remain in the country, how many individuals authorities have lost contact with, and how long removals are expected to take.
The PAC also highlighted the scale of the financial burden. The PAC report states £4.9 billion was spent on asylum by the Home Office and Ministry of Justice combined, with £3.4 billion spent on accommodation. The committee said rising costs continue to be driven by delays and inefficiencies throughout the system.
Backlogs remain a major challenge. These delays prolong uncertainty for asylum seekers, increase pressure on local authorities and add to overall costs.
Although the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels has fallen, thousands continue to rely on temporary accommodation. The committee said the government still lacks a clear long-term plan for reducing dependence on hotels and managing accommodation pressures sustainably.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said the inquiry had revealed a disturbing picture of a fragmented system struggling to maintain control. The committee concluded that without comprehensive reform and stronger oversight, the challenges facing the asylum system are likely to persist.