Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL]

Perhaps I may raise a small, though not unimportant, matter. I understand that the Home Office has just decided to withdraw funding from the Refugee Council Children’s Panel. That panel has been very involved in the sort of work that the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, has been talking about. It helps to make decisions on the age of children in this country and generally keeps an eye on them. If the Minister does not know the answer tonight, I should be extremely grateful if he would write to let me know why this money has been withdrawn and what possible alternatives are being put forward to protect the children in the way that the children’s panel has been doing. The panel has been absolutely central to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the United Kingdom, and it would enormously raise the stakes on Clause 51 if the proposed Home Office procedures were to stand without its expertise and support.