Shortly after his move into number 10 Gordon Brown announced, unexpectedly, the creation of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.This will take up the children's functions of the now defunct Department for Education and Skills and also, crucially, have joint responsibility for young offenders with the Ministry of Justice.
This, equally unexpected, twist has come after years of campaigning by charities. The theory going that a shift to the then DfES would ensure the group's welfare needs were seen as paramount.
The movement of young offenders' poilcy throws the spotlight onto the group, once again, left behind - refugee and asylum seeking children. This group remains wholly in the Home Office, reflecting the government's stance that when it gets down to the wire immigration law trumps children's welfare legislation.
If Brown really does want to put his own stamp on government giving responsibility for this group to the new DCSF would truely set him apart.
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