Written question asked by Andrew Smith (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 May 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 4 June 2008. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Monday, 21 July 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Immigration: Children

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children who are British citizens are in immigration detention; and for how long they have been there.

Answer: [holding answer 4 June 2008]: There were no children with British citizenship in any immigration removal centre as at Thursday, 22 May 2008. The UK Border Agency does not detain children who are British citizens. However, where a foreign national subject to enforced removal is parent to a child with British citizenship, it is possible for that child to accompany the parent through the enforcement process on a voluntary basis. Such situations are not common and would only occur where deemed to be in the child's best interests with all parties in agreement and the parent providing consent. The child's status in the removal centre would effectively be that of a guest.

Secondary information