Collective sigh of relief, a government minister has, finally, admitted there are “causes for concern” about UK Border Agency (UKBA) plans to use dental x-rays to determine the ages of asylum-seeking children.
Addressing a committee of MPs today, education secretary Michael Gove said: “I am concerned obviously to ensure that we do not have people exploiting the generosity of this country, but I’m also clear that we should ensure that the dignity of individuals and in particular the rights of children are respected too.”
It’s a pretty tentative response considering the serious question marks over the lawfulness of this trial (it’s not a new issue). There are two main questions, according to lawyers: whether the trial complies with this European directive which makes specific requirements on those seeking to use x-rays and whether the young people can reasonably be said to have given their informed consent. There is also doubt over the efficacy and reliability of the science itself.
Syd Bolton, a solicitor and co-director of the Refugee Children’s Rights Project, called the UKBA trial “wilfully misconceived and fundamentally flawed”. He told me it fails to have any regard to statutory safeguarding duties, interferes with the independent duties of councils and “will not, when all is said and done, provide any better or more accurate assessment of age than is possible using safe social work and paediatric assessment methods”.
I know legal organisations have tried to contact the UKBA, with no joy, and it seems Michael Gove has had the same problem. He told MPs he’s still waiting for a response from the Home Office and the UKBA. He also told Lisa Nandy MP that he didn’t know whether his department had sanctioned the trial, but would write to her with the UKBA’s response by Friday. Glad to see the mechanics of government are as well-oiled as ever. (Picture credit: schoschie on Flickr)
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