§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the motivation of(a) child asylum seekers and (b) those who facilitate their journeys; and if he will make a statement. [28112]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 17 January 2002]: We have not assessed the motivation of child asylum seekers. All asylum applications, regardless of the applicant's age, will be considered in accordance with the criteria set out in the United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees.
There is no common motivation for those facilitating child asylum seekers. Some will act altruistically, others to improve the economic or educational prospects of family members. But there are many whose motivation is profit and the involvement of organised people smuggling gangs is becoming increasingly common.