Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why, of unaccompanied refugee children in France and elsewhere in Europe, they have excluded certain age groups and countries of origin from consideration for asylum in the UK.

Our criteria under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 is intended to ensure that we are focusing on the most vulnerable children.

In France, we will be considering those aged 12 and under of any nationality, children referred to us by the French authorities as being at a high risk of sexual exploitation of any nationality, and those nationalities most likely to qualify for refugee status in the UK, aged 15 and below.

All unaccompanied minors with close family in the UK will continue to be considered for transfer under the Dublin Regulation, regardless of age or nationality.