Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have used, or plan to use, artificial intelligence to assess the age of asylum seekers; if so, from what date; what consultation on its use has been undertaken or is planned; whether the results of such consultation will be published; and whether individuals subject to its use will be given full details without having to request them.

Assessing age of unaccompanied children is an incredibly complex and difficult task. The Home Office is considering whether scientific and technological methods and artificial intelligence tools (such as facial age estimation technology) can improve age assessment methods with facial estimation technology trials due to begin later this year. Subject to the results of further testing and assurance, which has been commissioned, Facial Age Estimation could be introduced into the system in 2026.

We are engaging various stakeholders throughout testing and policy development. The Government will inform Parliament of any decisions on this policy area in due course.