HC Deb 17 September 2003 vol 410 cc803-5W
Brian Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of recommendations put forward in the UNICEF report, "Stop the Traffic", to assist victims of child trafficking in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [1290861

Beverley Hughes

The Government welcome the UNICEF report drawing attention to the heinous crime of trafficking. Work is already in hand to develop a better understanding of the scale of child trafficking, and the Home Office has sponsored research by the International Organisation for Migration that will be presented to a major EU conference later this month.

Work to develop intelligence and co-ordinate operations against trafficking is the responsibility of Reflex, the multi-agency response to organised immigration crime. Reflex has supported Operation Paladin Child which is profiling unaccompanied children arriving at Heathrow, as well as similar exercises at Gatwick and Dover.

The Sexual Offences Bill, currently before Parliament, introduces wide ranging criminal sanctions covering trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. We are committed to introducing legislation covering trafficking for other purposes when parliamentary time permits.

Responsibility for child protection falls to Social Services under the Children Act 1989. There are wide ranging proposals for changes to the child protection arrangements contained in the Green Paper, "Every Child Matters", published recently. In particular, co-ordination arrangements between social services and the police will be enhanced through greater clarity over the responsibilities of Area Child Protection Committees. The Home Office has developed a Trafficking Toolkit, published earlier this year, with practical advice around identifying and supporting victims of trafficking that is available to police and social services.

Brian Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to introduce a system whereby victims of child trafficking are given leave to stay in the UK for a period of reflection of up to six months; and if he will make a statement. [129087]

Beverley Hughes

There are no plans to introduce a blanket reflection period for the victims of trafficking, children or adults. Rather, each case is considered on its individual merits.

Brian Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources his Department will make available to provide for specialist training for immigration officers and social workers in order to(a) help them identify cases of child trafficking and (b) provide them with the necessary skills to assist victims of child trafficking; and if he will make a statement. [129088]

Beverley Hughes

The Government are committed to protecting trafficked children, and have recently announced a Children's Commissioner for England and other measures to protect vulnerable children in the wake of the recommendations from the Laming Inquiry into the tragic death of Victoria Climbié

All immigration officers are already trained to a high standard in interviewing skills. In addition to this, the Immigration Service is shortly to deliver specialist training to around 600 operational members of staff nation-wide. Central to the theme of the course will be that children arriving in the UK may be here as a result of coercion or criminal activity, including trafficking.

Immigration officers also receive regular intelligence bulletins and inter-agency briefings that highlight issues and trends in respect of trafficking so that they may make informed decisions. All UK immigration officers at ports of entry have been issued with a profile of potential child trafficking victims.

The Home Office has also recently published a 'trafficking toolkit', providing guidance for immigration officers on how to recognise a victim of trafficking and what to do if such a victim is encountered. A vice team consisting of specially selected immigration officers has also been established in London. The team is fully aware of the procedures for the identification of trafficked children.

It is for local councils to decide training priorities for social workers. However, the Government have made £6 million available in the Training Support Programme grant for post-qualification specialist training for social workers, with a target of 7,000 social workers awarded the Child Care Post-qualifying Award by 2006.

There is also new post-qualifying funding for social workers in the Human Resources Development Strategy grant at £0.5 million this year, rising to £13 million by 2005–06.

Brian Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to provide central funding for specialist care and protection for the victims of child trafficking in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [129090]

Beverley Hughes

Child victims of trafficking are referred to social services to receive assistance and support based on their particular needs. Social services have a duty under the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in need by providing a range and level of services appropriate to those children's needs or, where appropriate, by arranging for the provision of services from other agencies. Child victims of trafficking are likely to be in need of welfare services and—in many cases—protection under the Children Act 1989.

There is no current specific earmarked funding for services of this nature. Instead, Government funding is allocated to councils with social services responsibilities on the basis of the needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each body's target fair share of available resources. It is, therefore, for councils, working in partnership with relevant stakeholders, to determine their spending priorities on the basis of local needs.