§ Lord AVEBURYasked Her Majesty's Government:
1482WAWhether age estimates by the Civil Surgeon are required to be produced at the time of interview in respect of all children over 10 applying for entry clearance at the British High Commission in Dacca, Bangladesh, and whether such age estimates are based on X-ray examination.
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (Lord Carrington)Children over 10 applying for entry clearance at the British High Commission in Dacca are not required to produce Civil Surgeon age estimates at the time of interview. In cases of doubt where age is a crucial factor, applicants may be referred at interview to the High Commission medical adviser for an age estimate which may include anX-ray.
§ Lord AVEBURYasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many applications in respect of children over 10 were processed at the British High Commission in Dacca, Bangladesh, in the last 12 months and in how many such cases were X-rays for the purpose of age estimates carried out by the High Commission's medical adviser; or, if this information is not avaliable for a 12-month period, whether they will give this information for any shorter period for which it can now be obtained.
§ Lord CARRINGTONEntry clearance applications from 1,258 children were considered at the British High Commission in Dacca between 1st July and 31st August 1979. During this period 47 children were referred for age estimates which entailed the use ofX-rays. These figures do not distinguish between children below and above the age of 10; but young children would not be referred for age estimates.