Written question asked by Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord West of Spithead (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 December 2007.

Asylum Seekers: Unaccompanied Children

Question: What arrangements are in place for the reception of returned unaccompanied asylum-seeker children; and what monitoring methods are in place.

Answer: A case owner who is seeking to return a child will work closely with representatives of the country concerned, non-governmental organisations both in the UK and in the country of return and the local authority looking after the child in the UK to ensure that acceptable arrangements are in place for the reception and care of the child on return. Arrangements vary from case to case and country to country but are usually that a parent, guardian or other person who can be trusted to care for the child’s welfare will be able to meet the child at the port of arrival and care for them thereafter. This case-by-case consideration means that a formal system of monitoring is not considered necessary.

Secondary information