Oversight of asylum support in Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

1. Asylum dispersal reports for Scotland (2023-2025), including UASC placements and compliance with Children Act 1989 equivalents.
2. Data on processing delays for asylum seekers in Scotland (2024-2025), including impacts on statutory duties under Immigration Rule 333A.
3. Local procurement records for asylum support in Scotland (2023-2025), including competition analysis for subcontracts.
4. Incident reports of UASC at risk or missing in Scotland (2018-2025), with safeguarding actions.
5. Correspondence with the Home Office on ODA-funded asylum programs in Scotland (2023-2025), focusing on VFM.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested. The Scottish Government holds some correspondence in relation to question 5, in relation to the UK Government's national transfer scheme for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Much of the funding for this scheme is classed as Official Development Assistance for asylum seekers by the UK Government. Our correspondence in relation to National Transfer Scheme funding did not focus on value for money - so I am not sure how helpful it is for you - but since your request did not specifically exclude correspondence which does not focus on value for money, I thought I have decided to include it.

The Scottish Government does not gold information in relation to the first four subjects you have listed. As you are probably aware, asylum and immigration are reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office.

​​​​​​​If you have further enquiries relating to the UK asylum system, therefore, you may wish to contact the Home Office at foirequests@homeoffice.gov.uk to find out whether there is further information which they would be able to provide. It may also be helpful to be aware that the UK Government regularly publishes statistical data online which may be helpful for your query. Quarterly releases containing immigration and asylum statistics are available on the UK Government website: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK

​​​​​​​In relation to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UAS children), it may be helpful to know that once they arrive in Scotland, they are looked after by local authorities. Local authorities do not send incident reports for UAS children to the Scottish Government.​​​​​​​

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.

FOI 202500488855 - Information Released - Annex

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