Highland Council Objects to Home Office Algorithm Allocating More Asylum-Seeking Children

Highland Council is formally objecting to a new Home Office algorithm that has led to a substantial rise in the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children allocated to the region. The council contends that the formula is fundamentally flawed, as it neglects to consider the severe housing challenges currently plaguing the Scottish Highlands.

This revised allocation process, designed by the Home Office, has resulted in a ‘significant increase’ in the children the council is expected to accommodate. Local authorities argue that such a mechanistic approach overlooks critical regional capacities, particularly concerning the availability of appropriate housing and support services for vulnerable young people.

A spokesperson for Highland Council stated that while they remain committed to assisting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, the current methodology places an unsustainable burden on their resources. They emphasised the necessity for the Home Office to reassess its algorithm, incorporating a more nuanced understanding of local infrastructure and housing market realities to ensure the welfare of the children and the effective functioning of local services.