EDUCATION OF CHILDREN SEEKING ASYLUM

Early day motion 1187, tabled 23 April 2002 by Karen Buck (Labour). Signed by 143 members.

That this House expresses its concern at sections 30 and 31 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill, which removes refugee children in accommodation centres from the application of key sections of education law; notes that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child lays down the child's right to education on the basis of equal opportunity; believes that the development of segregated education provision is both regressive and discriminatory, and not in the best interests of the child; believes that the status of refugee children as children should take precedence over their status as asylum seekers; and calls on the Government to meet its obligations under the UNCRC, by ensuring that all children in the United Kingdom have the same access to mainstream school places.

Signatures by party: Labour 99, Liberal Democrat 31, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 4, Scottish National Party 2, DUP 1, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.