§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the Support Fund for the Former British Child Migrants to become operational; how the fund will be administered; what conditions will apply to determine who will be eligible to receive funding; and when the central information index and website will become operational. [81074]
530W
§ Mr. HuttonThe Child Migrant Support Fund became operational from 1 April 1999. It is administered by International Social Service (ISS) on behalf of the Department. Applications to the Fund must be made through the relevant national ISS office, which will process the claims, but decisions on applications will be made by ISS United Kingdom.
In order to receive assistance from the Fund, the applicant must be able to show that he/she is a former British child migrant who does not have the means to fund his/her own arrangements for a first-time reunion with a close family member (mother, father, parents' siblings, or their own brothers and sisters).
The central information Index is expected to become operational in the autumn. The website has been operational since 1 March 1999.