Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what statutory basis she is transferring children into hotels in Brighton and Hove.

The significant increase in the numbers of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children arriving in the UK has placed incredible pressure on the asylum system. Out of necessity, and with the children’s best interests in mind, we have arranged for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to be accommodated on an emergency and temporary basis in hotels whilst placements with local authorities are being vigorously pursued.

We recognise hotel accommodation is a temporary means to accommodate the increased number of UASC arriving and are only ever a contingency option and not a long-term solution.

The Home Office does not have, and therefore cannot discharge, duties under Part 3 of the Children Act 1989. It is for the local authority where an unaccompanied child is located to consider its duties under the Children’s Act 1989.