He announced the move during Prime Minister’s Questions, saying it was part of the government’s steps to end the detention of child asylum seekers.
Responding to a question from fellow Liberal Democrat Julian Huppert, Clegg said: "It is simply a moral outrage that last year the Labour government imprisoned, behind bars, 1,000 children who were innocent of any wrongdoing whatsoever.
"I can confirm that this government will come forward shortly with an announcement of how we can deliver on our pledge to end child detention and to close Yarl’s Wood detention centre for good."
The controversial centre has been criticised by children’s rights groups, and practices at the centre have also been condemned by Dame Anne Owers, the chief inspector of prisons.
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