§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2002,Official Report, column 1415W, on asylum seekers, what evaluation he has made of the protocols put in place by West Sussex Social Services Department and Sussex police for tackling unaccompanied asylum seeking children in danger of being victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation; and what recommendations he has made for other local authorities to adopt these protocols. [48646]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 15 April 2002]: We have been pleased to learn that the number of children going missing from West Sussex has substantially reduced as a 122W consequence of the collaborative multi-agency approach that the Social Services Department, the police and others have taken. The Department is closely involved in supporting and leading developmental and collaborative work among all local authorities which have significant numbers of unaccompanied asylum seeking children.