Dear Chairman,
Freedom of Information Act Request: 00396
NOTIFICATIONS TO HIGH COMMISSIONS AND EMBASSIES OF CHILDREN IN CARE
Please find the responses to your questions detailed below:-
Question 1.
What is the Local Authorities policy for notifying High Commissions and Embassies (their Consular Welfare Sections) regarding non-UK national children that are?
a) Taken in to Care
b) Being Adopted
Answer
a) The Local Authority would be required to advise the country of origin
on the circumstances of the child;
b) In circumstances where children are subject to legal proceedings,
the parent should be advised by their own solicitor of their right to
access their own Embassy for support.
Question 2.
What is the Local Authorities policy for enabling High Commissions and Embassies Consular Welfare access visits to non-UK children in its care and prior to adoption?
Answer
The Local Authority does not have a policy on welfare access visits. They do however liaise with and seek guidance from CFAB (Children and Families Across Borders).
Question 3.
Has the Local Authority sought any legal or other advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding High Commissions and/or Embassies Consular Welfare visits to non UK children in its
care?
Answer
No legal advice has been sought from the Foreign and Commonwealth Welfare Office regarding High Commission and/or Embassy Consular Welfare visits to non UK children in our care.
Question 4.
Has the Local Authority refused any High Commission or Embassy
Consular Welfare visits to non UK children in its care and if so how many?
Answer
No visits have been refused.
Question 5.
By the Local Authority:
How many foreign national children have in the last five years:
a) Been taken into Care
b) Been Adopted
c) What counties were they from
Answer
a) Six children have been taken into care – Two instances;
b) Zero children have been adopted;
c) One child was from China;
Five children were from Libya (one family)
Question 6.
By the Local Authority:
How many High Commissions and Embassies Consular Welfare
Sections in these cases as in 5. A. & B. above were:
a) Notified
b) Were not notified to High Commissions and Embassies Consular Welfare Sections
Answer
The High Commission and Embassies were advised on one occasion –
China.
Question 7.
In the cases of doubt regarding nationality and other unconfirmed/un verified information such as history what is the Local Authorities policy regarding enquiring of High Commissions and Embassies for confirmations that may be available outside of the UK regarding non UK children in its care and prior to adoption.
Answer
In the cases of adoption, CFAB would be contacted and they would liaise with the relevant High Commission and Embassy.
Question 8.
What is the Local Authorities Policy regarding non-UK children in its care or as adopted being able to ensure their right of access to their non-UK Identity and Nationality once they reach age 16 and should they wish assistance to leave the UK.
Answer
The Local Authority would refer to the child’s country of origin for advice via the Local Authority Legal Services.
If you are not satisfied with my response to your request for information, you may ask the Council for an internal review of this decision. You should write to Timothy Date, Solicitor to the Council and Assistant Director Corporate Governance at Warrington Borough Council, Quattro, Buttermarket Street, Warrington, WA1 1BN, giving details of your complaint. You should do this as soon as possible, or, in any case, within two months of your request being refused.
If, following the outcome of the internal review, you remain dissatisfied with the Council's response to your information request, you have the right under section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545745
Fax: 01625 545 510
Email: <mailto:>
Yours sincerely
Fiona Waddington
Assistant Director
Targeted Services Department