Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice on 23 April (244118), when they estimate they will introduce legislation to grant legal aid to unaccompanied and separated children; and whether updated guidance will be available to local authorities and social care trusts about the availability of legal aid for looked-after children going through the EU Settlement Scheme.

We have issued communications to Local Authority Directors of Children’s Services on the availability of exceptional case funding for separated migrant children’s immigration matters.

As part of Legal Support Action Plan, we are working to issue new guidance to improve understanding and awareness of the availability of exceptional case funding.

We have engaged with charity groups and stakeholders on this issue and have committed to lay legislation to bring non-asylum immigration matters into the scope of legal aid for separated migrant children. Subject to parliamentary time we intend to lay the amendment as soon as possible. Over the coming months we will continue to work with children’s charities and the Department of Education on further communications and guidance on this amendment.