Author: i Team
A charity has scored a partial victory against the Home Office in the Court of Appeal over its handling of unaccompanied child refugees. Following a challenge by Help Refugees, senior judges ruled that a number of child asylum seekers assessed for transfer to the UK under an amendment moved by Lord Alf Dubs, were given “patently inadequate” reasons for being refused entry.
However, the number of places for child refugees in the UK will remain capped at 480 after the charity failed to convince the court that the Government’s consultation with local authorities was defective.
Last year the charity sought orders to force then-home secretary Amber Rudd to abandon the cap and reopen the consultation, so consideration could be given to allowing more children in.
But judges at the High Court in London ruled against the charity in November, saying they were “not persuaded” its case was made out.
Every unaccompanied child we have turned away deserves an explanation’
That ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal, with Lord Justice Hickinbottom ruling the consultation was “not unlawful”.
However, the judge, sitting with Lord Justice McCombe and Lady Justice King, said those children refused places in the UK were given “patently inadequate” reasons for the refusal.
Lord Alf Dubs said: “Every unaccompanied child we have turned away deserves an explanation and a chance to appeal the decision, and we’re delighted to courts have agreed with us on that.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “This judgment confirms that the Government’s consultation with local authorities, in which they said they could provide 480 places for eligible children from Europe, was lawful.
“We continue to accept further referrals and transfers are ongoing.”
Source: https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/child-refugees-uk-court-of-appeal-government-ruling/
