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Written question asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour) on Monday, 22 June 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 July 2026. It was answered by Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour) on Monday, 6 July 2026 on behalf of the Home Office.

Human Rights: Children

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government whether Child Rights Impact Assessments conducted by the Home Office are equivalent to the Child Rights Impact Assessments conducted under the Department for Education template; and whether those assessments evaluate the impact of proposed asylum and immigration reforms against the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Answer

Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 places a legal duty on the Secretary of State to make arrangements for ensuring immigration, asylum, nationality and general customs functions are carried out with regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK.

This legal duty requires us to develop policy in respect of children through the lens of safeguarding, welfare as well as the best interests of children as primary (although not the only consideration), as set out in our statutory guidance.

Accordingly, as policy development continues on this government’s asylum and immigration reforms, my policy teams will complete Home Office Children’s Impact Assessments. Section 55 is a bespoke statutory duty for the Home Office, and it is not an equivalent to assessments conducted by other government departments.

Home Office Ministers have committed to complete Children’s Impact Assessments in accordance with Section 55 but have made no such commitments to complete Children’s Rights Impact Assessments.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL1174
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Children Asylum Human rights Immigration Home Office Reform UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Impact assessments
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk