Recommendation 31

The Home Secretary is bound by the UK’s international law obligations under the UNCRC. The Bill as currently drafted fails to make clear the support that should be provided to unaccompanied children in the UK in care of the Home Office in accordance with the UNCRC. The Bill should be amended to set out the type of support that the Secretary of State should provide to unaccompanied children housed in Home Office accommodation. The power to provide such support should also be changed to a duty to provide such support in accordance with the binding obligations under the UNCRC (see Annex, Amendments 23 and 24).