Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Age Estimation Science Advisory Committee will publish a report on proposed scientific measures to determine the age of asylum seekers.

In December 2021, the Chief Scientific Adviser at the Home Office set up an independent Age Estimation Science Advisory Committee to provide her with independent scientific and associated ethical advice, recommendations for best practice, and advice relating to issues raised by key stakeholders on the implementation of scientific methods of age assessment.

We have always been clear that any decision to implement scientific methods of age assessment would be subject to independent scientific advice. No official decisions have been made about what and how scientific methods would be implemented.

The potential costs of implementing any scientific methods will also be considered alongside scientific advice regarding potential methods recommended by the committee before making a decision on what methods to implement.