Asylum: Children

David Davis
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the report of the Children's Commissioner, published on 3 March 2008, insofar as it relates to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children; whether she plans to take steps to address such issues; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith
[holding answer 31 March 2008]: The UK Border Agency is carefully considering the report and, before responding formally to each of the recommendations, has met representatives of the Children's Commissioner on 3 April. Work to improve the arrangements for unaccompanied asylum seeking children has already addressed a number of the report's recommendations.