To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in implementing the Paladin recommendations proposed by the Metropolitan Police in 2003, with particular reference to the issue of unaccompanied minors entering the UK through London Heathrow. (74836)

Since publication of the report we have made significant progress. In particular the immigration and nationality directorate’s (IND) children’s taskforce is tackling a number of the recommendations. These include:

the provision of guidance to staff on identifying and dealing with children in need;

developing processes for working with other agencies on child protection issues;

the provision of specialist training for IND staff;

identifying ways to improve information received from abroad, child protection officers are now based at Heathrow airport and both child protection officers and social service staff are based at the Croydon asylum screening unit to ensure a more joined up approach.