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Many children could end up homeless and sleeping rough under the government’s plans in the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Bill, social workers and children’s charities have warned, writes Clare Jerrom.

Under clause seven of the legislation, due to be debated in the House of Commons this week, families whose asylum claims have failed will have support removed which could force them into destitution.

The British Association of Social Workers has joined force with the Refugee Children’s Consortium to call for the plans to be halted. They believe parents will not want to risk asking for help and families will end up sleeping rough.

Jacqui McCluskey, policy officer of NCH, a member of the consortium, said: “It is completely hypocritical to say that every child matters in the Green Paper in one breath, yet deprive children whose asylum claims have failed of even the basic rights and protection in the other.”

Ian Johnston, director of BASW also warned that the clause “completely undermines” the role of social work and would place pressure on social services departments “to consider separating refugee families for an entirely inappropriate reason”.

The group believes the plans are “dangerous and immoral” and want clause seven removed.

The consortium is made up of non-governmental organisations including Save The Children, Refugee Arrivals Project, Bail for Immigration Detainees and Barnardo’s.