Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that rights for child refugees under the Dublin III regulations are maintained after the UK leaves the EU; and if she will make a statement.

The Dublin Regulation is a mechanism for participating states to determine responsibility for asylum seekers, not children with refugee status. We fully intend that the Dublin III arrangements, like the rest of the asylum acquis, will continue to apply during the transition period. The Dublin III Regulation is an EU reciprocal agreement which requires agreement by both sides, and cannot be replicated unilaterally. We expect co-operation on asylum and migration to continue with our European allies after the UK leaves the EU, the exact nature and scope of this cooperation will be a matter for the negotiations.

Whilst we remain bound by it, we remain committed to the efficient and effective operation of the Dublin Regulation for all asylum seekers, including children. Our efforts are clear, for example the Sandhurst Treaty, signed between the UK and France on 18 January 2018, announced a number of further measures to support unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children.