MORE than 100 children have been held at the Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre in Lanarkshire in the last year.

MORE than 100 children have been held at the Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre in Lanarkshire in the last year.

The figure was uncovered by SNP MP Pete Wishart, who said yesterday he had initially been told by the UK Government it did not keep such information.

He is now trying to find out how long the children were held for and what happened to them after they left Dungavel.

The figures disclosed by the Government show that more than 1300 children were detained at three immigration removal centres in the UK during a 15-month period.

A total of 103 children were held at Dungavel between September 2008 and last month.

The figures also showed that between April 2004 and September 2009, a total of 889 children from 488 families had been detained for more than 28 days - a measure that has to be authorised by ministers.

The figures did not break down how many children had been detained for over 28 days in Dungavel, However, Dungavel routinely accommodates family groups for 72 hours.

Mr Wishart, SNP home affairs spokesman, said: "That 103 children have been held in Scotland - where the Scottish Government is firmly against child detention - is deeply disturbing.

"Whatever the position of the parents, children should not be detained behind barbed wire."

Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said children were only detained as a last resort.