Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

I strongly support the amendment. I was grateful to the Minister for his helpful letter following Second Reading. However, I was not clear about one point. He wrote that most unaccompanied asylum seekers will have looked-after status as they have no parent by definition. Surely all unaccompanied asylum seekers should have looked-after status as they have no parent by definition. Will the Minister explain why some might not have a social worker? I regret that some seem to be without, whether or not they are entitled to one. Perhaps that is as much to do with the shortage of social workers in some areas as anything else. I make the point because it speaks to the amendment’s proposal for a guardian for every unaccompanied asylum-seeking child. Although concern is felt that some children will not have a social worker or, as we have heard many times today and on previous days in Committee, that the turnover of social workers is so high that several may be without consistent contact and understanding of their case, I say that if they have a guardian, they will have someone who, one hopes, will stick with them for as long as they need their help, and a better outcome for them could be expected. They need a strong advocate to access legal services—which, as we have heard, are in short supply—and education, health and social services. Many of the young people about whom we are speaking can do very well in education and then make an important contribution in this country or in their own when they return. It would be a great pity if any of their potential was wasted for lack of an effective advocate. The amendment would be a helpful step forward, and what it proposes has, I understand, been demonstrated to be so in several other countries. I look forward to the Minister’s response.