§ David HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Government are doing to safeguard the welfare of unaccompanied asylum seeking children when they are given leave to remain in the UK; how the Government are helping social care agencies protect and aid those children deemed most at risk; and how many children are at risk in the Midlothian constituency. [27177]
§ Jacqui SmithI have been asked to reply.
Unaccompanied asylum seeking children are assessed by local authorities in accordance with their duties under the Children Act 1989, and are provided with help and support on the basis of that needs assessment. The position is unchanged when they receive leave to remain in the United Kingdom. While the young people are under 18 the local authority is able to claim grant funding from the Home Office to meet the costs of support. The Quality Protects programme, designed to improve services to children in local authority care, applies to local authorities' services for these young people as for other children in need.
Matters relating to Scotland are for the devolved Administration.