PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Asylum: Stockport (6 March 2023)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2023 to Question 148822 on Asylum: Stockport, for what reason her Department does not record the data in a reportable format for adult and children asylum seekers that were accommodated and are missing.

Asked by:
Navendu Mishra (Labour)

The Home Office takes the wellbeing, welfare and security of children and minors in our care extremely seriously. Robust safeguarding procedures are in place to ensure all children and minors are safe and supported as we seek urgent placements with local authorities. All children receive a welfare interview on their arrival at accommodation, which includes questions designed to identify potential indicators of trafficking or safeguarding issues. If required, tailored safety plans are put in place.

There are no hotels for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) in Stockport.

We have no power to detain unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in hotels and we know some do go missing. Adults are not detained and are free to come and go therefore the Home Office does not hold data for the total number of adult and child asylum seekers that were accommodated via the Home Office that are missing in a reportable format.

Answered by:
Robert Jenrick (Conservative)
9 March 2023