text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Children Bill - The National Asylum Support Service and Immigration Centres must ensure the welfare of children - rejected
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  The majority Not-Contents rejected an amendment[1] to the [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200304/ldbills/097/2004097.htm Children Bill]. The amendment would have required regional offices of the National Asylum Support Service and the centre manager of an immigration removal centre to "safeguard and promote the welfare of children"[2].
  
  In moving the amendment Earl Howe explained that:
  
  :'Refugee children are specifically mentioned as being children in the greatest need, yet the agencies which are charged with looking after them are excluded from the duty in Clause 8 to safeguard and promote children's welfare... Why on earth should refugee children be denied the same rights and protection as other children in the UK?'[3]
  
  However, the government argued that the amendment:
  
  :'would provide another basis for exploiting the appellate and judicial review systems by arguing that the detention of asylum-seeking families with children is not compatible with safeguarding children or promoting their welfare.'[4]
  
  The Children Bill became law in 2004. Its main aims were to:[5]
  
  * Create the post of [http://www.11million.org.uk/ Children's Commissioner] for England
  * Allow the government to create an electronic record of every child in England, Scotland and Wales to make it easier for agencies to work together
  * Ensure all public services cooperate on child welfare
  * Oblige all local councils to create the post of director of children's services
  
  ----
  
  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?gid=2004-07-15a.1460.2 Earl Howe], House of Lords, 15 July 2004
  * [2] The amendment modifies [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200304/ldbills/097/04097.1-7.html#j024a Clause 8 in the Children Bill] which adds other agencies to subsection (1) and, consequently, are subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4)
  * [3] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?gid=2004-07-15a.1460.3 Earl Howe], House of Lords, 15 July 2004
  * [4] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?gid=2004-07-15a.1460.3 Earl Howe] quotes a minister saying this in his speech
  * [5] Based on The Guardian's [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/13/children-act A-Z of legislation]
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  