Every child matters: change for children.

Statutory guidance to the UK Border Agency on making arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children It is the duty of Government and of society as a whole to keep children safe. Public agencies have a particular responsibility to do this, both within their own area of business and in the way in which they work together. Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 places a duty on specified public bodies and key individuals to carry out their functions having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This applies across a wide range of public activity, from schools to prisons. Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 now places a similar duty on the UK Border Agency. This is a natural progression for the Agency which has been steadily improving how it works with children. Last year, the Government lifted its general reservation relating to immigration on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and in January of this year we introduced a statutory Code of Practice for the UK Border Agency on Keeping Children Safe from Harm. The Code is superseded by this new duty which now places the UK Border Agency on the same footing as other public bodies working with children. As Ministers for Immigration and Children, we welcome this coming together and are confident that it will help to support more effective joint working. The UK Border Agency undertakes difficult and sensitive work on behalf of society as a whole. Working with children presents particular challenges. To meet these challenges effectively, the UK Border Agency needs the support of all those with an interest in children. The development of this guidance has been greatly assisted by the input of a range of organisations outside Government. We are grateful for this and look forward to continued cooperation to achieve the better outcomes for children which we all want to see. INTRODUCTION 1. Improving the way key people and bodies safeguard and promote the welfare of children is crucial to improving outcomes for children. therefore places a duty on the Secretary of State to make arrangements for ensuring that immigration, asylum, nationality and customs functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK. A similar duty is placed on the Director of Border Revenue in respect …