To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the annual cost to local authority children’s services of support to children with no recourse to public funds following the implementation of section 54 of and schedule 3 to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 and section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004; and if she will make a statement. (108866)

[holding answer 12 December 2006]: I have been asked to reply.

Local authorities participating in the section nine pilot were informed of the arrangements for the reimbursement of costs relating to the assessment and provision of services to children affected by a withdrawal of asylum support under the pilot in April 2005.