Issue - meetings

Consider report  by Director Education and Lifelong Learning.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Director Education and Lifelong Learning providing an overview on the United Kingdom Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC), National Transfer Scheme (NTS).  This was in addition to other migration schemes in which Scottish Borders Council (SBC) already participated.  The report explained that large numbers of UASC had arrived in the UK, predominantly in Kent.  Such was the pressure on Council Services in the South of England that urgent national support was being sought through a NTS.  While the scheme was voluntary, it could be mandated if support was not forthcoming, and the Home Secretary had existing powers to mandate transfers under Section 27 of the Immigration Act 2016.  The Home Office had estimated 650 UASC participating in the NTS per annum, with 45 UASC (6.9%) allocated to Scotland per distribution cycle, although numbers may vary depending upon arrivals.  The Council was currently hosting 2 UASC who had arrived in the Scottish Borders unannounced out-with the scope of the NTS.   The COSLA Leaders Meeting on 27 August 2021 had agreed that Scottish Local Government would participate in the NTS on the basis that Scottish Local Authorities would only accept young people who were 16 or over, unless by exception.  It was noted that Scottish Borders would be expected to take 2 UASC within each cycle and it was anticipated that there would be 2-3 cycles within the first year.  UASC would be designated as “looked after children” until they were 18 and thereafter as “care leavers” and would be eligible for support until they were 26.  Members were happy to support the proposals.

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)     to note the position regarding Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children National Transfer Scheme and that Scottish Borders Council should comply with the request for urgent national support for this vulnerable group; and

(b)     that Scottish Borders Council allow Officers to comply with other mandated national Migration Schemes as the need arose.

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MEMBER

Councillor Edgar joined the meeting during consideration of the above item.