Notifications to High Commissions and Embassies of Children in Care

The request was successful.

Dear Middlesbrough Council,

Re: NOTIFICATIONS TO HIGH COMMISSIONS AND EMBASSIES OF CHILDREN IN
CARE

To ask the Local Authority’s Children’s Services Head of Service:

1. What is the Local Authorities policy for notifying High
Commissions and Embassies (their Consular Welfare Sections)
regarding non-UK national children that are?

A. Taken in to Care
B. Being Adopted

2. What is the Local Authorities policy for enabling High
Commissions and Embassies Consular Welfare access visits to non-UK
children in its care and prior to adoption?

3. Has the Local Authority sought any legal or other advice from
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding High Commissions
and/or Embassies Consular Welfare visits to non UK children in it’s
care?

4. Has the Local Authority refused any High Commission or Embassy
Consular Welfare visits to non UK children in it’s care and if so
how many?

And
5. By the Local Authority:
How many foreign national children have in the last five years:

A. Been taken into Care
B. Been Adopted
C. What list of counties were they from

And
By the Local Authority:
6. How many High Commissions and Embassies Consular Welfare
Sections in these cases as in 5. A. & B. above were:

A. Notified
B. Were not notified

To High Commissions and Embassies Consular Welfare Sections

7. In the cases of doubt regarding nationality and other
unconfirmed/un verified information such as history what is the
Local Authorities policy regarding enquiring of High Commissions
and Embassies for confirmations that may be available outside of
the UK regarding non UK children in it’s care and prior to
adoption.

8. What is the Local Authorities Policy regarding non-UK children
in its care or as adopted being able to ensure their right of
access to their non-UK Identity and Nationality once they reach age
16 and should they wish assistance to leave the UK.

PLEASE NOTE FOR CLARITY SAKE:

This FOI is made by the following organisation and not by an
individual

This FOI Request is made by the Advocacy Fund which is an
organisation and not by an individual.
http://advocacy-fund.org

ICO Section 8 Guidance states:

In the case of a company, it is not necessary to provide the full
registered name. It will be acceptable to provide another name
which exists as a real entity, such as a trading name.

Also under the guidance an email address is considered sufficient
under the DPA for an address.

FOR CLARITY:
The Advocacy Fund is the Name of the organisation managed by
Advocati Massa Ltd (Reg In England), who appoints it officers. Both
are Not for Profit Organisations.

Both are real names in law and this FOI request is therefore
compliant
with the FOI Act and section 8 Guidance.

Responses can be made to either

A. The Advocacy Fund.

or

B. The Chairman, The Advocacy Fund

Yours faithfully,

Advocacy Fund

Middlesbrough Council

Dear Advocacy Fund

REF NO: 2615.1

Thank you for your recent enquiry, received on 14 October 2011 regarding
notifications to high comissions and embassies for children in care.  We
can confirm that your enquiry is receiving attention and a response will
be provided within 20 working days following receipt of your enquiry as
allowed under the Freedom of Information Act legislation.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will
let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

Please do not hesitate to contact me direct on (01642) 729696/729698 or
email foi@middlesbrough. gov.uk should you require any further advice or
assistance with this or any other matter.

Yours sincerely

Scott Bonner
Corporate Initiatives Officer

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Middlesbrough Council

Dear Sir/Madam

REF NO:   2615.1.1.
I am writing to confirm that Middlesbrough Council has now completed its
search for the information you requested on 14 October 2011.

In your request you asked for the following information:

1. What is the Local Authorities policy for notifying High Commissions and
Embassies (their Consular Welfare Sections) regarding non-UK national
children that are?
   
A. Taken in to Care
B. Being Adopted

Response:  There is no policy.
   
2. What is the Local Authorities policy for enabling High Commissions and
Embassies Consular Welfare access visits to non-UK children in its care
and prior to adoption?

Response:  There is no policy.
3. Has the Local Authority sought any legal or other advice from the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding High Commissions and/or
Embassies Consular Welfare visits to non UK children in it’s care?

Response:  No    
   
4. Has the Local Authority refused any High Commission or Embassy Consular
Welfare visits to non UK children in it’s care and if so how many?

Response.  No
And
5. By the Local Authority:
How many foreign national children have in the last five years:
   
A. Been taken into Care

Response.  25
B. Been Adopted

Response.  0
C. What list of counties were they from

Response.  USA, China, Holland, Poland, Romania.
   
And
By the Local Authority:
6. How many High Commissions and Embassies Consular Welfare
Sections in these cases as in 5. A. & B. above were:
 
A. Notified
B. Were not notified
   
To High Commissions and Embassies Consular Welfare Sections
 
Response.  0
   
7. In the cases of doubt regarding nationality and other unconfirmed/un
verified information such as history what is the Local Authorities policy
regarding enquiring of High Commissions
and Embassies for confirmations that may be available outside of the UK
regarding non UK children in it’s care and prior to adoption.
   
Q7.  Each case is addressed on its merits, there is no policy.
8. What is the Local Authorities Policy regarding non-UK children in its
care or as adopted being able to ensure their right of access to their
non-UK Identity and Nationality once they reach age 16 and should they
wish assistance to leave the UK.

Q8.  N/A

If you have any queries about this letter, please do not hesitate to
contact me direct on (01642) 729696/729698 or email
[Middlesbrough Council request email]  Please remember to quote the reference number
shown above in any future communications.

If you are unhappy with the way your request has been handled you may ask
for an internal review within 40 days of receipt of the response. You
should write to:-

Chris Davies,
Corporate Complaints Manager,
P.O. Box 503,
Ground Floor,
Town Hall,
Middlesbrough,
TS1 9FX
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for an
independent review.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: -
Information Commissioner’s Office,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire,
SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely

Steph Robson
Freedom of Information Officer

Members' Office
P.O. Box 503
Ground Floor
Town Hall
Middlesbrough
TS1 9FX

Tel.  01642 729696

FAX. 01642 729882
Email:   [Middlesbrough Council request email]

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