People Trafficking

Lord Roberts of Llandudno Excerpts

Monday 7th March 2011 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, the noble Lord raises an important point, but very few trafficked children appear at St Pancras for the reasons that I have described. However, considerable numbers turn up at Stansted and Heathrow, and both Hillingdon Council and Essex Council have made progress on improving some of their statistics, which in the past were not very good at all.

[Lord Roberts of Llandudno]

My Lords, what co-operation is there between us and other member countries of the European Union that are also on the line that leads to St Pancras?

[Earl Attlee]

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.