Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to include protections within the Illegal Migration Bill for children and families claiming asylum.

The central premise of the Illegal Migration Bill is clear: those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach rather than risking their lives or paying people smugglers to make the illegal dangerous and unnecessary journey across the Channel. It's important that we do not incentivise people smuggling gangs to target certain vulnerable groups and the need to ensure their safeguarding, so children and families are in scope.

We will ensure that the country of return or relocation is safe for all members of the family including children and they will have access to legal advice. Legal challenges which raise a real risk of serious and irreversible harm will be considered before a person is relocated to a safe third country. If the claim is upheld, they will not be relocated to that country until it is safe to do so.

Unaccompanied children who arrive in the UK illegally will be provided with the necessary accommodation and support but they will not be able to stay and settle in the UK.