The British Association of Social Workers recently wrote to both theeducation and home secretaries asking them to suspend section nine ofthe Asylum and Immigration Act 2004.
Under the section all support for failed asylum seekers can be withdrawnand if this happens councils are required, under the Children Act 1989,to take any children into care. But, responding to the association'sletter, education secretary Ruth Kelly said it was a Home Officematter.
"It makes a nonsense of the Every Child Matters policy," said theassociation's director Ian Johnston.
The criticism comes as the Khanali family from Iran, who live in Bury,Greater Manchester, lost their second appeal against the Home Office'sdecision to stop their benefits.
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