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Asylum: Translation Services

Asked by Mr Lee DillonLiberal DemocratHome OfficeTabled Answered 18 November 2025UIN 89899

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of automated translation tools for use in the asylum decision making process.

Answered by Alex Norris

The Home Office does not currently use AI or automation for interpreting or translation purposes.

The Home Office is currently exploring the technology landscape for translation and transcription solutions with the view to better understand the capabilities and their current maturity, along with the risks and benefits. The intent is to understand the feasibility and adequacy of utilising this type of technology to support processes within the Migration & Borders system. This exploration is also supportive of engaging with experts and academia to ensure a well-informed and evidence-based approach.

The Home Office is investing in innovative techniques, including AI, to explore how we can improve productivity, speed up processing the asylum backlog, streamline the provision of accommodation and support, and restore order in the asylum system. This will not be at the cost of compromising on accuracy due to the complexity and importance of asylum decisions.

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