22 June 2009 Our ref: RQST00002455875

J Cassidy

[FOI #12483 email] <mailto:[FOI #12483 email]>

Request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

I refer your correspondence dated 27 May 2009 requesting the following information:

Concerning the age assessment of unaccompanied children seeking asylum and the available guidance, can you please provide copies of:

1) Confirmation or denial that it is the practice of your local authority to always send the UKBA/Home Office a full copy of the age assessment and that doing so complies with your Confidentiality and Data Protection Act duties and policies and is done so with the informed consent of the person age assessed or with the written agreement of the assessed person's legal representative.

1.1) If you do send the UKBA/Home Office a full copy of the age assessment, but only in certain circumstances, can you give details of these circumstances and that doing so complies with your Confidentiality and Data Protection Act duties and policies and is done so with the informed consent of the person age assessed or with the written agreement of the assessed person's legal representative.

1.2) Confirmation or denial that it is the practice of your local authority to always only send the UKBA/Home Office a summary of the outcome of the age assessment and that doing so complies with your Confidentiality and Data Protection Act duties and policies and is done so with the informed consent of the person age assessed or with the written agreement of the assessed person's legal representative.

1.3) In connection with (1), (1.1) and (1.2) above can you please provide copies of any procedures, operational policy or guidance that explains the manner by which these age assessments or summaries are shared with the UKBA/Home Office and that doing so is perfectly legal and professionally ethical. Together with copies of the relevant age assessment forms or summaries you currently use.

I can confirm that the Council is treating your request as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and that we hold the information in question.

Request 1: Glasgow City Council does not, as a matter of routine, always send a full copy of the age assessment.

Request 1.1: If Glasgow City Council were to send a copy of the full age assessment it would be with the consent of the person age assessed.

Request 1.2: When the UK Borders Agency has requested Glasgow City Council to undertake an age assessment, we have to communicate the outcome of that assessment back to UKBA. We do this by providing UKBA a copy of the last page of the age assessment form (attached).

Request 1.3: Attached is the Hillingdon Merton compliant age assessment form used and practice guidelines (1 page note). I don't have the practice guideline in any other format than PDF. The second document is the age assessment form provided to us by the Home Office.

I hope the above information is helpful.

If you are dissatisfied with the way Glasgow City Council has dealt with your request you are entitled to require the Council to review its decision. Please note that for a review to take place you must:

The Solicitor to the Council

Glasgow City Council

City Chambers

George Square

Glasgow G2 1DU Email: [email address]

You will receive notice of the results of the review within 20 working days of receipt of your request. The notice will state the decision reached by the reviewing officer as well as details of how to appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner if you are still dissatisfied with the Council's response. You must request an internal review by the Council before a complaint can be directed to the Scottish Information Commissioner.

Yours sincerely,

Jim Charlton

Principal Officer

Rights & Enquiries Section

Social Work Services