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.