CHILDREN IN IMMIGRATION DETENTION

Early day motion 634, tabled 7 January 2008 by Diane Abbott (Labour). Signed by 49 members.

That this House is concerned that the Government persists in detaining children and their families in immigration removal centres; notes that recent work by Save the Children, Bail for Immigration Detainees, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Legal Action for Women, Refugee Council and the Children's Commissioner of England among others have found that detention centres are not suitable places for children to live; further notes that despite these objections children continue to be held in detention centres, at times for over 28 days; believes that holding children and families who are extremely vulnerable and in need of social and psychological help contravenes a plethora of human rights principles and laws; and calls on the Government to bring an end to the appalling practice of detaining children and vulnerable people.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 14, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Conservative 1, Independent 1.