§ Ms Julie MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the Children's Manifesto produced by Barnardos, the Child Poverty Action Group and the NSPCC; and what plans he has to evaluate and monitor services to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. [153397]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Children's Manifesto is an interesting and thought-provoking document that we are considering carefully. We share the aim expressed in the manifesto of enabling today's young people to grow into secure, confident and resourceful citizens. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are children in need under the Children Act 1989. Services for them are, therefore, monitored and evaluated in the same way as other children's personal social services. From time to time, as necessary, we look specifically at services for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. For example, we asked local authorities to describe services for this group in their Year 3 Quality Protects Management Action Plans, submitted in January 2001. These plans are currently being evaluated.