§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is the considered policy of Her Majesty's Government to admit child refugees from Eritrea and elsewhere who have no means of supporting themselves in Britain; what representations he has received from London local authorities about the cost of their support; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydAll applications for asylum in the United Kingdom from individuals claiming to be refugees are assessed against the criteria of the 1951 United Nations convention on refugees. Age is no bar to qualifications for refugee status and applications from children are considered individually on their merits. Child applicants, like adult asylum seekers, may remain here while their 547W applications are determined. With regard to representations made by London local authorities, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health on 17 December 1990 at column 62.