Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to introduce a system of independent legal guardianship of unaccompanied migrant children in England and Wales similar to that which exists in Scotland and Northern Ireland; and what assessment, if any, they have made of the impact the introduction of such provisions would have on the system of independent advocates.

This Government takes its responsibility for the welfare of migrant children very seriously and has stringent safeguards in place.

Local authorities are responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all unaccompanied migrant children in their area. Unaccompanied migrant children looked after by local authorities are entitled to the same services as any other looked after child. Under these arrangements, they are assessed with regard to their individual needs and provided with access to education, accommodation and health services. They will be assigned a social worker; an independent reviewing officer responsible for overseeing their care arrangements; an independent advocate responsible for accurately representing the child’s wishes and feelings; and, in many cases, they will also benefit from support from a foster carer.

In addition, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children can access legal advice from qualified legal representatives and, in England, independent advice and assistance on the asylum process and in their interactions with government agencies, is available from the Refugee Council’s Children’s Advice Project.

We are confident that these comprehensive arrangements ensure unaccompanied children are provided with the support and advice that they need. Consequently, the Government has no plans at present to introduce a system of independent legal guardianship for all unaccompanied migrant children in England and Wales.vv