People Trafficking

Earl of Listowel Excerpts
Monday 7th March 2011

(13 years, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Earl Attlee Portrait Earl Attlee
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My Lords, when UKBA officials intercept a child being trafficked in France or Belgium, that child is quite properly handed over to the French or Belgian authorities. We are confident that they have the necessary procedures and facilities in place because they are signed up to the same conventions as we are.

Earl of Listowel Portrait The Earl of Listowel
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My Lords, will the Minister assure the House that the UKBA officials in the juxtaposed zones in Belgium and France have the right capacity to identify people perpetrating this, given the difficulty that he has highlighted in doing so? Is there social work input into what they do? Perhaps he might write to me with the details of their training.

Earl Attlee Portrait Earl Attlee
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My Lords, I am convinced that UKBA officials are specially trained to be able to detect children being trafficked. There are tell-tale signs when something is wrong, and I am confident that they are properly trained in that respect.