Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the care of Scottish local authorities: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the care of Scottish local authorities at the latest period possible in 2024.

Response

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because this data is not routinely collected or held by Scottish Government. The latest Children’s Social Work Statistics on Looked After Children is collated and published annually. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are included in this data as looked after children but are not categorised in such a way that we can provide the number as requested at this time.

As such, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

Our aim is to provide information whenever possible, and whilst we do not have the information you have requested, the Scottish Government gathered the number of UAS children and young people being supported by Scottish local authorities between October and December 2023. This information was gathered to understand the support provided and pressures faced by local authorities caring for an increasing group of children and young people. During that time, 30 out of 32 Scottish local authorities told us that they were supporting a total of 563 UAS children. They also told us that they were supporting 584 UAS young people aged 18 or over, who had arrived in Scotland as children.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.