Asylum: Children

(asked on 28th November 2016) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's guidance, entitled implementation of section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 in France, published on 14 November 2016, whether she plans to apply similar restrictions to those described in that document based on age or nationality to other children being considered for relocation to the UK under that section.


Answered by
Robert Goodwill Portrait
Robert Goodwill
This question was answered on 1st December 2016

The criteria for relocating children to the UK from France under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 are based on the reasonable likelihood of their qualifying for refugee status and achieving long-term stability. The criteria are therefore in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The guarantee of rights in relation to children, and the delivery of appropriate services to individual children, is currently provided by the French State.

Our policies do not deprive any child of access to these benefits and therefore are fully in line with the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. Furthermore, section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 requires the Secretary of State to carry out their immigration and asylum functions in a way that takes into account the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK. Where a child is outside the UK, the spirit of the duty should be applied. Due regard has been given, throughout the process of establishing the criteria and guidance, to the Secretary of State’s duties under the Equality Act 2010. The criteria and guidance are in full compliance with those duties.

The published guidance applies to unaccompanied children in France who had been resident in the migrant camp in Calais on or before 24 October. It is time limited to the period of the camp clearance operation, including the ongoing assessment and transfer of eligible children directly from specialist centres throughout France.

Reticulating Splines