Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the practice of placing unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in hotels, with little or no supervision.

The UK is experiencing an unprecedented increase in the number of people making life-threatening journeys to cross the Channel. These boats are often carrying unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC). Out of necessity and with the children’s best interests in mind, we have arranged for them to be accommodated on an emergency and temporary basis in hotels whilst placements with local authorities are being vigorously pursued. These emergency interim hotels only accommodate unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

We have robust safeguarding procedures in place to ensure all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children accommodated temporarily in these hotels are as safe and supported as possible whilst we seek urgent placements with a local authority. Young people are supported with wrap-around care by team leaders and support workers who are on site 24 hours a day. Further care is provided in hotels by teams of social workers and nurses.