Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 February 2023 to Question 143853 on Refugees: Afghanistan, what procedures are in place for unaccompanied children from Afghanistan to (a) make themselves known to and (b) seek support from the relevant authorities in the UK.

Following the evacuation of Kabul any children who we became aware of in the UK, that were not with their parents, have been dealt with on a case-by-case basis. When this has happened, we work in close collaboration with social services and the relevant local authority.

The safety and welfare of those who are resettling or relocating in the UK is of paramount importance to us as such we have comprehensive and robust safeguarding processes in place for those under our care.

The Government has been, and continues to, provide a warm welcome to Afghans arriving in the UK, providing accommodation, food, integration support, English lessons, and healthcare. All children who were evacuated under Op Pitting are now in school, and children who have joined us since then are either in school or being placed in schools. This means they are subject to the same statuary rights as any school child in the UK and the relevant support packages or services.