Dear Director of Childrens Services,

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children

This letter is to let you know that over the coming weeks we will be seeking some costing information from yourselves and a number of authorities which will help the UKBA decide whether to proceed with the Specialist Authority model, as outlined in our Reform papers, or whether to work on a different model of funding Local Authorities to care for UASC.

The template that I attach is one that was originally drawn up by the Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Childrens Services in 2008 when we were anticipating formal proposals to become specialist authorities. We now feel that rather than seek formal proposals, at this stage we need to better understand all the costs that you currently incur in caring for UASC. The results of the exercise will be used to assess exactly how we move forward towards the implementation of the specialist authority model or some other costing mechanism that will achieve the same objectives - containing long-term funding arrangements that give certainty to both sides and assurances that we have first rate services for all of this group of children across the UK. .

We have commissioned our colleagues in the Regional Strategic Migration Partnerships to carry out this piece of work with Local Authorities. This has been fully discussed at an ADCS meeting, with colleagues in the Local Government Association and with the Regional Migration Partnerships. Rather than ask all LAs in the UK to complete the document we have restricted our request to a selection of those authorities who we would hope to interest in becoming specialists if we were to move forward down that route.

Attached to this message are two documents - the template that we would hope you would complete and some guidance notes on its completion.

Let me finish by confirming that this exercise does not constitute any commitment on your part to move forward on the Specialist Authority model - it is about our understanding all the costs.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further information. My e mail address is:- [email address].

Yours sincerely

Jerry Harland

UASC Reform Programme

Cc Newcastle City Council

Solihull Metropolitan District Council

Birmingham City Council

Nottinghamshire County Council

Leicestershire County Council

Northamptonshire County Council

Leeds City Council

Sheffield City Council

Bradford City Council

Barnsley Metropolitan District Council

Manchester City Council

AGMA Authorities

Liverpool City Council