David Cameron to end 'scandal' over asylum

Published on Wednesday 15 December 2010 16:18

THE "scandal" of asylum-seeker children being held in immigration detention centres is to end, the Prime Minister said yesterday.

David Cameron said deputy prime minister Nick Clegg would make a detailed announcement today about the coalition's plans to prevent children being held in the removal centres as their parents face deportation.

The pledge to end the practice was a key part of the Liberal Democrats' manifesto and was included in the coalition agreement brokered after the general election.

Yesterday the Prime Minister was asked by veteran Labour backbencher John McDonnell how he planned to ensure children were not held in immigration detention centres.

Mr McDonnell said: "According to the latest statistics, over the last year, on 665 occasions, children of asylum-seekers were placed in detention centres. It means that this Christmas it is highly likely there will be children in our detention centres."

The Prime Minister replied: "We made a commitment in our coalition agreement to address this issue.

"The deputy prime minister will be making a statement about how we are going to end this scandal."