| answer text |
<p>The number of unaccompanied children who make asylum claims is published in the
quarterly immigration statistics. The latest statistics can be found at the following
link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-applications-decisions-and-resettlement</p><p>Protecting
vulnerable children is a key priority for the Government and the Home Office takes
its responsibility for the welfare of children very seriously. Section 55 of the Borders,
Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 requires the Secretary of State to make arrangements
for ensuring that immigration, asylum and nationality functions are discharged having
regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in the
UK.</p><p>All Home Office staff with responsibility for interviewing and making decisions
on asylum claims from children will have received specific training as a precursor
to considering claims from children.</p><p>In line with our published guidance on
handling asylum claims from children, once a child is encountered, the relevant local
authority children’s services will be contacted and informed of the arrival and a
referral made. Any modern slavery or urgent welfare concerns must be dealt with as
a matter of priority.</p><p>Thereafter Home Office staff have an ongoing obligation
to escalate any welfare concerns they have to the local authority children’s services
throughout the course of the asylum process. In 2019, the UK received more asylum
applications from unaccompanied children than any other country in Europe.</p>
|
|
