To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of potential child victims of trafficking referred to the national referral mechanism have been age-disputed. (309622)

[holding answer 11 January 2010]: Information on the number of age disputed potential child trafficking cases is not held centrally. Competent authorities within the NRM make decisions on a case by case basis on the information provided by front line staff or other NRM partners. While assessing each case competent authority staff will consider all aspects including the age of the child but they do not contribute to any age assessment process.