asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ensure that women applying for asylum in their own right have childcare for young dependent children when their principal interview is taking place and that, if necessary, they have female interviewers and interpreters. [HL327]

A request for a gender specific case owner and interpreter for the asylum interview is accommodated where operationally possible. The Home Office does not provide childcare to those attending substantive asylum or immigration interviews. However, we are currently considering the facilitation of childcare at asylum interviews with a trial in Wales and the south-west that will be evaluated in March 2008.