As the period for consultation on the Government’s Green paper on children at risk ends on 1st December, local Liberal Democrats have warned that the Government’s own policies risk undermining the progress made since the death of Victoria Climbie. In a letter to the Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Children, Paul Burstow, local councillor Ron Aitken has highlighted several areas of concern:

* Budgetary pressures – the Green Paper contains no new funding proposals and Haringey has been given one of the worst budget allowances in the country. The Council’s Social Services Department is already £4m in the red. The Lib Dems favour scrapping the unfair Council Tax.

* Home Secretary David Blunkett’s proposal to take into care the children of asylum seekers whose claims are refused is described by Cllr Aitken as ‘barbaric’. Not only would it destroy families, local authorities would be faced with massive costs and would be open to legal challenge under the Children and Human Rights Acts. The Children Act specifically states that ‘the welfare of the child’ is paramount’ – how could this be ensured by taking asylum children into care?

* Rules making it compulsory for General Practitioners to inform Government Departments about asylum seekers seeking medical attention threaten to undermine a key recommendation of Lord Laming, that children should be registered with a GP and be properly examined when they are registered. These rules will deter people from registering with a GP or going to a hospital if there are concerns about abuse, driving the problem underground.

* The use of temporary accommodation and hostels, and the removal of asylum seekers’ children from mainstream schools puts them at risk of abuse and should be ended immediately.

Cllr Ron Aitken comments:

“The Government’s own policies are undermining the protection of children and these issues must be addressed. In a borough such as Haringey, with such pressing social services issues, it is vital that we get these policies right.”