THE Bishop of St Albans spoke up for the children of asylum seekers during a heated debate in the House of Lords on Monday afternoon, June 24.

The Right Reverend Christopher Herbert voiced his opinions on the spiritual welfare of the youngsters during a discussion on the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill.

The bishop made particular reference to Yarl's Wood detention centre situated within St Albans Diocese which was destroyed in a fire in February.

"It would be helpful in this debate if we saw the Bill not entirely through adult eyes but through the eyes of the children involved," he said.

"Many of them have been uprooted from their own communities and taken vast distances, often in terrible conditions, and find themselves in a strange land.

"Physically, and spiritually too, many are at risk.

"Many children have undergone traumas that might well scar them for life unless they receive appropriate and loving attention."

The bishop expressed his concern about plans to educate asylum-seeking children in accommodation centres rather than in schools.

He asked the House of Lords whether the Government could guarantee the spiritual, emotional and educational needs of the children in such centres.

The bishop also said he hoped that lessons had been learned from the experience of Yarl's Wood Britain's largest immigration centre which was set alight by disgruntled asylum seekers.

"It's my most earnest hope that we see those centres through the eyes of children," he added.

"I hope that we look at the Bill and ask whether the centres will be in the best interests of the children, who will be the future citizens of our country and the world, and therefore whether the Bill stands up to proper moral scrutiny."

On behalf of the Government, Lord Filkin said he agreed that it was important to meet the spiritual and emotional needs of people in accommodation centres.

He said: "There will be facilities for religious observance, and it is intended that there will be a manager of religious affairs in each centre, as there is in existing removal centres.

"Officials are consulting a religious affairs advisory group on how best to take such important issues forward."

The prison service's head of security is conducting an inquiry into Yarl's Wood and the Government will take into account any lessons to be learnt from that.

The child welfare provisions of the Children Act 1989 will apply to children in accommodation centres.

June 27, 2002 11:00