Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to replace the EU's mechanisms for family reunification in relation to unaccompanied children.

This Government has made it clear that we are embarking on an ambitious programme to fix our broken asylum system to make it firm and fair. As the Home Secretary said in her Conservative Party Conference speech, we will seek to stop abuse of the system while ensuring it is compassionate towards those who need our help, welcoming people through safe and legal routes.

Section 3 of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (the Act) sets out a statutory obligation to review the ways in which protection claimants, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), who are in an EU member state are able to enter the United Kingdom lawfully. As a part of this review, the statutory obligation includes a public consultation on legal routes for UASC in the EU seeking to join family in the UK.

The Act includes a requirement to lay a statement before Parliament by 10 February 2021 providing further details of the review and consultation.

The Government has also made a commitment, in the event of a non-negotiated outcome with the EU, to seek to pursue new bilateral negotiations on post-transition migration issues with key countries of mutual interest, including on new arrangements for the family reunion of unaccompanied asylum seeking children.