§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many unaccompanied minors have been detained in Campsfield House near Oxford, at any one time in 1997, of what ages, from which countries, and under what legislation.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)During 1997, 11 people have claimed to be aged under 18 while detained at Campsfield House. Six were Nigerian nationals, two were nationals of Pakistan, and there have been one each from Ghana, Bangladesh and Algeria. Of these 11 cases, four have been released, and only one remains at Campsfield House.
Many of those who are liable to detention under powers conferred by the Immigration Act 1971, and who may at some stage have sought asylum in the United Kingdom, are not in possession of documents satisfactorily establishing either their identity or nationality. Some hold identity documents but claim to be younger than the ages shown therein. It is perhaps inevitable in these circumstances that there will be some cases where the precise age of the individual is in dispute.
Age assessment remains an inexact science and definitive assessments cannot be made. The Immigration 138WA Service, however, is closely involved with the Children's Panel of the Refugee Council and local social services to ensure that cases of doubt are referred to a paediatrician at the first opportunity.
Whilst there is no minimum age below which a person may not be detained under powers conferred by the Immigration Act, under current guidelines detention is not considered appropriate for unaccompanied children or for young persons under the age of 18. It is normal practice to grant temporary admission to those who are clearly unaccompanied minors, usually into the care of social services.