Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the age profile is of .lone child refugees at the (a) Kent Intake Unit and (b) Manston centre over the last year.

Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer.

Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible.

It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.