Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, of the unaccompanied children seeking asylum who were housed in hotels and went missing but were subsequently found, how many were reported to, or were found to, have been involved in (1) organised crime, and (2) county lines drug activity, during the period they were missing.

The Home Office takes the wellbeing, welfare and security of children and minors in our care extremely seriously. Robust safeguarding procedures are in place to ensure all children and minors are safe and supported as we seek urgent placements with local authorities.

This information is not held centrally but is held by the encountering police forces. When a young person who has previously gone missing from a hotel housing unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) is encountered or located we engage with statutory partners, including the police who will identify whether there are any concerns regarding possible trafficking; exploitation or other potential criminal activities that may require investigation.