Where clear and credible documentary evidence of age is not available, criteria including physical appearance and demeanour are used as part of the process to assess whether a person is under 18. The Home Office will treat a person claiming to be a child as an adult only where their physical appearance and demeanour very strongly suggest they are 25 years of age or over.<\/p>
When there is doubt about an individual\u2019s claim to be a child, Home Office policy is to refer them to the relevant local authority to carry out a careful \u201cMerton compliant\u201d age assessment, which must be carried out by two social workers and must adhere to guidelines set out by the Courts. Whilst this assessment is ongoing, the local authority or Health and Social Care Trust looking after the individual remains responsible for their care arrangements and the safeguarding of other children in their care.<\/p>
The Home Office keeps its policies and processes under review and we remain committed to striking the right balance between ensuring that children who claim asylum are appropriately supported and maintaining the integrity of the asylum system by preventing adults being treated as children.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-17T12:09:06.153Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Asylum: Children"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to identify the age of people placed in care facilities with minors when requesting asylum.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4633", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Girvan"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Antrim"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Girvan"} ], "uin" : "262442"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1126615", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1126615/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Home Office is promptly refunding excess immigration health surcharge payments where individuals have paid the incorrect amount as a consequence of their application being in train when the surcharge was increased on 8 January this year.<\/p>
An operational process was established to identify customers who paid the higher rate so that adjustments and refunds can be made. Any customer who self identifies as not having received a refund for this reason will be prioritised.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-05-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-05-20T10:37:52.473Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-05-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Migrants: Health Services"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to fast-track refunds to people who have paid the new higher-rate Immigration Health Surcharge when their cases require them to pay only the lower pre-2019 rate.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4633", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Girvan"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Antrim"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Girvan"} ], "uin" : "254262"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1126028", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1126028/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Under Common Travel Area arrangements Irish citizens have the right to enter and live in the UK without requiring permission. The same right is enjoyed by British citizens in Ireland.<\/p>
Those who were born in the Republic of Ireland before 1949 are able to opt for British subject status, which then enables them to register as a British citizen if they wish to do so, based on a period of residence in the United Kingdom. If a person wishes to become a British citizen rather than a British subject, they must make such an application and pay the required fee.<\/p>
Irish nationals born after 1949 can become British citizens by naturalisation. Irish nationals are regarded as settled in the UK and so are able to apply for citizenship after 5 years residence in the UK (3 years if the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen). This is a quicker route to citizenship than for other nationals. There are currently no plans to make an assessment of applications for citizenship without a fee.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-05-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-05-20T10:34:36.74Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-05-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "British Nationality: Republic of Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the right to apply for UK citizenship without a fee to people born in the Republic of Ireland and who have lived in the UK for most of their life.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4633", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Girvan"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Antrim"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Girvan"} ], "uin" : "253726"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1055024", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1055024/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
EEA nationals are exercising EU Treaty rights in the UK if they are in their first three months of residence or if they are working, self-employed, looking for work, self-sufficient or studying, or if they have a right of permanent residence in the UK under EU law.<\/p>
Applications and supporting evidence for EEA residence documentation made by EEA nationals and/or their non-EEA national family members are considered on a case-by-case basis. Home Office guidance setting out how caseworkers consider applications can be found at www.gov.uk/government/collections/eea-swiss-nationals-and-ec-association-agreements-modernised-guidance.<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-13T16:36:45.25Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Immigration: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what form a proof of being a family carer is acceptable for an EEA National for the purpose of claiming treaty rights for a non-EEA partner in Northern Ireland where there is no provision for local registration.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4633", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Girvan"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Antrim"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Girvan"}
], "uin" : "217019"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/983273", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/983273/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government does not hold this information centrally. However, to support the wider operational response to modern slavery in November 2016, £8.5 million was awarded to national policing, through the Police Transformation Fund. To enhance the police response to modern slavery, this included funding two posts within Europol to support police forces to investigate Modern Slavery internationally.<\/p> In addition, the National Crime Agency uses its international network to investigate the high-harm Organised Crime Groups involved in modern slavery affecting the UK and to support international partners to build their capability to investigate human trafficking and safeguard victims.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-16T15:15:56.38Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Human Trafficking"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have been tasked with assisting police services in other countries in cases of human trafficking in the last three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4633", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Girvan"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Antrim"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Girvan"}
], "uin" : "176597"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/983274", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/983274/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Statistics on referrals to the NRM are broken down by nationality and gender and are published quarterly on the NCA website. The age of potential victims is limited to whether they are a child or an adult to protect the identity of victims. They can be found via the link below: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/national-referral-mechanism-statistics<\/a><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-16T15:17:54.14Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Human Trafficking"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) age (b) gender and (c) nationality was of each victim of human trafficking rescued by agencies in England and Wales in the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4633", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Girvan"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Antrim"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Girvan"}
], "uin" : "176598"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/964424", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/964424/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " An Irish citizen whose parent was born in Ireland prior to 1949 would be a British citizen at birth if they were born in the UK before 1983; or born in the UK thereafter at a time when their parent was ordinarily resident here.<\/p> If born outside of the UK after 1949, they would be a British citizen only where their parent retained an ongoing ability to pass on British nationality.<\/p> Where the circumstances above do not apply, they are able to seek naturalisation as a British citizen provided they meet the statutory requirements.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-09-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-09-11T12:08:42.11Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-09-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "British Nationality: Republic of Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Irish citizens living in the UK with a parent born in the British dominion of Ireland before 1949 are eligible for automatic British citizenship.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4633", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Girvan"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Antrim"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Girvan"}
], "uin" : "169753"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/964702", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/964702/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is not held centrally. The Home Office publishes data annually on the number of motoring offences dealt with via a fixed penalty notice (FPN) in the \u2018Police Powers and Procedures, England and Wales\u2019 statistical publication.<\/p> The Home Office collects and publishes the number of FPNs issued by offence group and offences related to \u2018middle lane hogging\u2019 and \u2018ignoring lane closures\u2019 on the motorway come under the offence group \u2018careless driving offences\u2019. It is not possible to separately identify them in the data held by the Home Office.<\/p> The number of FPNs issued for \u2018Careless driving offences\u2019 can be found in table \u2018FPN_02\u2019 of the \u2018Fixed penalty notices for motoring offences\u2019 tables. This table shows data on a calendar year basis, with the collection beginning in 2001.<\/p> The latest data, up to the calendar year 2017, can be found here:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2017<\/a><\/p> The next release of the \u2018Police Powers and Procedures, England and Wales\u2019 statistical publication is due to be published on 25th<\/sup> October 2018.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1561", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Nick Hurd"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-09-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "169755"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-09-11T16:03:37.32Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-09-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Road Traffic Offences: Motorways"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many penalty charges have been issued for motorway middle lane offences in the last three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4633", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Girvan"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Antrim"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Girvan"}
], "uin" : "169754"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/964703", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/964703/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is not held centrally. The Home Office publishes data annually on the number of motoring offences dealt with via a fixed penalty notice (FPN) in the \u2018Police Powers and Procedures, England and Wales\u2019 statistical publication.<\/p> The Home Office collects and publishes the number of FPNs issued by offence group and offences related to \u2018middle lane hogging\u2019 and \u2018ignoring lane closures\u2019 on the motorway come under the offence group \u2018careless driving offences\u2019. It is not possible to separately identify them in the data held by the Home Office.<\/p> The number of FPNs issued for \u2018Careless driving offences\u2019 can be found in table \u2018FPN_02\u2019 of the \u2018Fixed penalty notices for motoring offences\u2019 tables. This table shows data on a calendar year basis, with the collection beginning in 2001.<\/p> The latest data, up to the calendar year 2017, can be found here:<\/p>