Alex White (Labour)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 8, line 31, to delete "detention" and substitute "rehabilitation".

This has more to do with the language of the Bill than with anything else. When we discussed this matter on Second Stage, I had the impression the Minister of State was somewhat sympathetic to the point being made about the use of a word such as "detention" in a child care measure. The word belongs to the language of the criminal justice system and one would not wish to see it in child care legislation. It was for that reason that my Labour Party colleagues and I tabled this amendment to remove the word "detention". We suggest its replacement with the word "rehabilitation".

I am not wedded to a particular word. If the Minister of State has a better or more appropriate one, I will be happy to debate it with him. I would have thought we could all agree that the use of the word "detention" was not appropriate. It is associated with criminal proceedings and criminal decision making regarding children is what we are trying to avoid. We need words which clearly mean something. We know we are talking about taking children into care for their protection and the protection of others which does involve an element of their being taken into a secure environment. To that extent, we understand where the use of the word "detention" comes from. However, in the context of this legislation, it should be replaced by one which more suitably describes what is being done.