Issue of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children being discussed by Hampshire County Council

Since the National Transfer Scheme began in 2016, the NTS had transferred 1,054 children up until the end of June 2020.

Councillor Patricia Stallard, executive lead member for children’s services and young people at Hampshire County Council said: “We have always been part of the National Transfer Scheme and, in common with other local authorities in the scheme, we will continue to share the responsibility and do whatever we can to assist.

Given that the arrival of increasing numbers of unaccompanied asylum seeking children is a national issue, we welcome the government’s consultation and will be responding accordingly.

"Ultimately, what is most important is that these children, who have arrived in our country without their parents or other family to take care of them and having suffered all sorts of trauma, are well looked after, helped to adjust and, most importantly, feel safe and secure.

"Equally, it is vital that local authorities receive the right level of funding from the Home Office in order to ensure that local authorities are not financially penalised for helping.”

The government thanked those local authorities that have assisted with finding places for children in recent weeks, following an upsurge in arrivals in Kent. To date, 60 local authorities have pledged over 270 places to help support those children arriving on the south coast.

Proposals being considered in the consultation include a voluntary rota system between different regions in the UK, which would enable local authorities to plan more effectively for care placements for unaccompanied children.

Another option being tested is making participation in the National Transfer Scheme mandatory.

The consultation will seek views on whether making the scheme mandatory would be a useful way of ensuring local authorities are playing their part in caring for unaccompanied children.

The consultation will run from August 28 to September 30.