UK CHALLENGED ON CHILD DETENTION

LIB DEMS CHALLENGED ON COALITION BACK TRACK


The Lib Dems were today challenged by SNP MSP Anne McLaughlin over the
Tories backtrack on ending the detention of children in immigration
centres.


For the second time Lib Dem claims of ending the detention of children for
immigration purposes have come into question after the UK Immigration
Minister said he was aiming to minimise child detention, not to end it.


Glasgow MSP Anne McLaughlin today demanded assurances that detention of
children by the UK immigration system would be stopped across the UK and
asked Scotland’s External Relations Minister Fiona Hyslop to raise the
issue with the UK Government.


Anne McLaughlin said:


“It is four months since we were told the new Government would end this
practice immediately and since the Lib Dems claimed they had secured this
change yet it is still taking place and now looks set to continue.


“Ending detention at Dungavel was welcome but we are instead seeing
children put through immediate removal to England and the trauma of
detention at Yarls Wood.


“The detention of children in immigration centres is wrong and must come
to an end across the UK immediately.


“Tavish Scott and Nick Clegg have been repeatedly contradicted by the Tory
Minister as their promises come to nothing.


“We must have proper clarity and a proper deadline – the detention of
children in immigration centres must end and it must end now”


ENDS


The Tory / Lib Dem confusion can be found here:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/09/detention-children-immigration-centres