Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all asylum seeking children have access to legal aid and advice.

Unaccompanied asylum seeking children in the UK are placed into the care of local authorities and are provided with specialised legal advice and support throughout this period.

The Home Office works closely with the Legal Aid Agency, which administers the legal aid provision, to ensure that there is sufficient legal assistance coverage throughout the UK. In addition, assistance in accessing legal advice is available from the child’s social worker, the Refugee Council Children’s Advice Project for children in England and the Scottish Guardianship Service for children in Scotland.