Overview
- Auditors tracked 5,000 people who applied in January 2023 and found 56% still lacked a final outcome by September 2025.
- Within the sample, 35% were granted protection, 9% were removed after refusal, and 41% were refused but not deported.
- Appeals have become a major bottleneck, with 68% of refused claimants challenging decisions as tribunal caseloads surge and judicial capacity remains tight.
- Asylum spending in 2024–25 is estimated at about £4.9bn, mostly for accommodation and support, while the full cross‑government and local‑authority bill remains unclear.
- The NAO calls for a cross‑government implementation plan, system indicators and a long‑term data blueprint; the Home Office cites nearly 50,000 removals and rising enforcement activity.