Written question asked by Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 September 2004. It was answered by Baroness Scotland of Asthal (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 September 2004.

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Scotland of Asthal, Baroness

Question

Whether, following the judgment in the case of R (on the application of B) v London Borough of Merton [2003], they will revise the Immigration and Nationality Department's Operational Enforcement Manual to make it clear that where an applicant claims to be a minor, the decision-maker cannot determine age solely on the basis of applicant's appearance, but must seek to elicit the general background of the applicant, including family circumstances, educational background and activities during the previous few years; and what advice they have received, and from what authorities, on the scientific basis of age determination of teenagers; and what are the margins of error of the methods used by the Immigration and Nationality Department; and what is the methodology used by Cambridgeshire Social Services in providing age estimates of persons detained at Oakington; what is the average length of time taken to provide these estimates; and why the Immigration and Nationality Department refuses to accept medical evidence provided by a consultant paediatrician. [HL 3803] [HL 3804] [HL 3805].

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Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

664 c127-8WA

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Children Detainees Applications Age Immigration Judgements Medical examinations Young people Social services Cambridgeshire Immigration and Nationality Directorate Paediatrics Oakington Immigration Removal Centre