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<p>All children transferred here under the Dublin Regulation or under section 67 of
the Immigration Act 2016 will be expected to make an asylum claim in the UK, which
will be considered according to normal processes. We aim to decide 98 per cent of
straightforward asylum claims within six months. Where a child does not qualify for
asylum and it is clear that safe and adequate reception arrangements are not available
in their home country, they will be granted leave to remain under the Immigration
Rules for 30 months or until they reach the age of 17 and a half, whichever is shorter.</p><p>The
Government already has a comprehensive approach to safeguarding children, including
refugee children. We recognise that the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking and
refugee children arriving in the UK has risen over the last few years, including through
the transfer of hundreds of children from Calais. That is why the Written Ministerial
Statement (HLWS231) made on 1 November by my noble friend the Parliamentary Under
Secretary of State for the School System committed to the publication, by 1 May 2017,
of a strategy setting out further detail on how these children will be safeguarded
and their welfare promoted.</p><p>This strategy will compliment and build on existing
safeguarding guidance and procedures. We have already been working with local authorities,
charities and other organisations to make sure plans are in place to give these children
the support they need.</p><p>We will be working with the relevant agencies to develop
this further over the coming months. In line with the legislation we will in due course
specify the number of unaccompanied refugee children to be transferred to the UK under
section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.</p>
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