17.As we have indicated, we will continue to examine the vital issue of the UK’s support for unaccompanied child migrants, including by taking further evidence, and by looking further at the operation of the Dublin process, as well as the Dubs scheme. However, there are two steps which we call on the Government to take now, as a matter of urgency.
18.We recommend that, before implementing any changes to the Dubs scheme, the Government respond urgently to the statement published by the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner on 22 February, and consult him on his assessment of the likely impact of any such changes on the scale of trafficking of unaccompanied children.
19. We further recommend that, before implementing any changes to the Dubs scheme, the Government publish up-to-date information on the offers made by local authorities to take unaccompanied asylum-seeking children under Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016; and that it clarify their capacity to take further unaccompanied asylum-seeking children under this provision in the 2017–18 financial year. This process should take account of the variations in total costs of accepting asylum-seeking children in different parts of the country.
3 March 2017