Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Margaret Moran (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 27 October 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Human Trafficking

Question: When my right hon. Friend considers the steps necessary to implement the convention, will she consider action against child trafficking? Will she reflect on the fact that, in many instances, children who are trafficked into this country disappear from social services' care within 48 hours? It appears that problems associated with internal data sharing in health and education bodies and social services are leading to a lack of protection for our children. Will she urgently look at this nationally and internationally?

Answer: My hon. Friend raises an important point. We are very concerned that some children whom we suspect have been trafficked go missing from local authority care. That is why we welcomed the additional support of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which, with our support and that of Comic Relief, is running a 24-hour advice line for practitioners. It is also why, last year, we published multi-agency guidance to all front-line staff on how trafficked children can be identified and safeguarded, and why we need to build on the work of the ““Young Runaways Action Plan”” published on 16 June. I assure her that we will continue to raise these issues across Europe and internationally when we have the opportunity to do so.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 481 c546
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Children Human trafficking Protection Costs Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk