Government put on spot over cash for unaccompanied minors
Posted: 30 May 2003 | Subscribe Online
The government is set to face questioning on funding for councils
supporting unaccompanied children arriving in the UK, following a
ruling last year that councils should support these young people
until they are 24 years old.
In a case brought against Hillingdon Council in west London earlier
this year, the High Court ruled that councils should act as
corporate parents to unaccompanied children arriving in the UK
until they reach the age of 24 (news, page 9, 4 September).
Speaking at a conference in London last week about supporting young
refugees and asylum seekers, Neil Gerrard MP promised to pose a
parliamentary question to the government that asks what is being
done about grants and resources in the light of the
judgement.
Education secretary Charles Clarke acknowledged at the annual
social services conference earlier this month that the ruling would
create additional pressure in some parts of the country and
promised the issue was being reviewed.
