Current status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 13 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between its officials and the owners of Scottish airports regarding reported child trafficking through Scottish airports.
Scottish Executive officialshave not met directly with the owners of Scottish airports regarding child trafficking.
However, the UK Action Planon Human Trafficking, jointly published by the Scottish Executive and the HomeOffice in March 2007, identifies a number of actions designed to tackle traffickingthrough airports and other ports of entry. In particular, police and UK Border &Immigration Agency staff working at ports of entry to the UK are receiving specialisttraining to ensure they have the tools and expertise to identify victims of trafficking.Work is also being undertaken by the Home Office in collaboration with the airlineindustry to develop a Code of Practice on the carriage of minors.