Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government under which legal provision the Home Office has assumed child protection powers for unaccompanied migrant children.

We expect local authorities to meet their statutory obligations to children from the date they arrive in the UK. The best place for these young people is and will remain within a local authority care placement.

The Home Office is not currently in the position of corporate parent to any unaccompanied child.

There is nothing in the Illegal Migration Bill which changes this position.

It will continue to be for the local authority where an unaccompanied child is located to consider its duties under the Children Act 1989.