Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that more than 10,000 unaccompanied children have used dangerous means to enter the UK over the past decade; and what steps they are taking to provide safe routes for such children.

Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety. There are a number of safe and legal routes available to the UK which specifically enable us to provide protection for the most vulnerable refugees, including children.

Since 2010, the UK has granted protection to 41,000 vulnerable children and this will continue to be a priority after we leave the EU.