COALITION FAILS ON DUNGAVEL PLEDGE

COALITION FAILS ON DUNGAVEL PLEDGE

CHILD DETAINED FOUR DAYS AFTER LIB DEMS CLAIM IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN

The SNP has today called for immediate action from the Lib Dem / Conservative Government to end the detention of children at Dungavel.

Yesterday (17th) an eight month old child was detained at the centre despite claims last week by Lib Dem Scottish Secretary Danny Alexander and Holyrood leader Tavish Scott that they had ended the detention of children at Dungavel.

In First Minister's Questions last week Tavish Scott stated:"UK Government policy is changing and children are no longer to be detained behind razor wire at Dungavel—Liberal Democrats in government having made that happen" and Scottish Secretary Danny Alexander claimed the ending of child detention as a Lib Dem gain from the coalition deal.

Commenting on the detention of another child at the centre SNP MSP Christina McKelvie whose region includes Dungavel said:

"Danny Alexander and Tavish Scott's words mean as little as Labour's when it comes to Dungavel.
"Last week the Lib Dems claimed the detention of children at Dungavel had ended. Today an eight month old baby is being held behind bars in Scotland.

"Children should not find themselves behind bars in a humane immigration system and if the Lib Dem deal means anything the new Scottish Secretary and Tavish Scott must act to ensure this child, and all others are not detained in Dungavel for one more day.

"The news that Lib Dem claims have come to nothing so quickly and that last week's announcement was made of the same spin as those from Mr Alexander's predecessor will deeply disappoint many of those who hoped for better from this coalition. Instead of something different the Lib Dems position looks just the same as Labour and Tory.

"The SNP has taken the lead in setting up alternatives to detention for children of asylum seekers and asylum seeking families. That is the approach Scotland wants to see, not cheap talk and no action from another Scottish Secretary."