§ Jonathan ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum-seeking unaccompanied minors were(a) returned to their country of origin prior to their 18th birthday in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000, (iii) 2001 and (iv) 2002, (b) to which countries they were returned in each year and (c) what criteria were applied for each country; and if he will make a statement. [88368]
§ Beverley HughesThe information requested is not available. Although statistics of the removal of failed asylum seekers include unaccompanied minors; they are not separately identified. The information would therefore be available only by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.
However, as a matter of policy, unaccompanied children are not removed under Immigration Act powers unless we are satisfied that suitable arrangements have been made for their reception and care in the destination country.
Jonathan Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there will be changes to the process for families who apply for asylum in-country claiming support following implementation of section 55 of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. [88376]
§ Beverley HughesFrom 8 January 2003, when section 55 comes into force, support will be provided to an asylum seeker and his/her household if he or she has a dependant aged under 18 even if he/she did not apply for asylum as soon as reasonably practicable. It is for the Secretary of State, in practice The National Asylum Support Service (NASS), to determine whether a person is a dependant under 18 and to determine who forms part of the household and can therefore receive support irrespective of whether the asylum seeker concerned applied for asylum as soon as reasonably practicable. Accordingly new procedures are being developed to enable this to take place.