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| UK child migrants apology planned | UK child migrants apology planned |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown is planning to apologise for the UK's role in sending thousands of its children to former colonies in the 20th century, the BBC has learned. | Gordon Brown is planning to apologise for the UK's role in sending thousands of its children to former colonies in the 20th century, the BBC has learned. |
| Under the Child Migrants Programme - which ended just 40 years ago - poor children were sent to a "better life" in Australia, Canada and elsewhere. | Under the Child Migrants Programme - which ended just 40 years ago - poor children were sent to a "better life" in Australia, Canada and elsewhere. |
| But many were abused and ended up in institutions or as labourers on farms. | But many were abused and ended up in institutions or as labourers on farms. |
| The move comes as Australia's prime minister prepares to apologise for the mistreatment of the children. | |
| Mr Brown has asked officials to consult with survivors of the Child Migrants programme, so that a statement can be made in the new year. | Mr Brown has asked officials to consult with survivors of the Child Migrants programme, so that a statement can be made in the new year. |
| It is important that we take the time to listen to the voices of the survivors and victims of these misguided policies UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown Ordeal of Australia's child migrants | It is important that we take the time to listen to the voices of the survivors and victims of these misguided policies UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown Ordeal of Australia's child migrants |
| Meanwhile, on Monday, Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd will deliver a national apology to the "Forgotten Australians" and will recognise the mistreatment and ongoing suffering of some 500,000 people held in orphanages or children's homes between 1930 and 1970. | Meanwhile, on Monday, Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd will deliver a national apology to the "Forgotten Australians" and will recognise the mistreatment and ongoing suffering of some 500,000 people held in orphanages or children's homes between 1930 and 1970. |
| He will combine it with an apology to the 7,000 child migrants from Britain who live still in Australia. | He will combine it with an apology to the 7,000 child migrants from Britain who live still in Australia. |
| As they were compulsorily shipped out of Britain, many of the children were told - wrongly - their parents were dead, and that a more abundant life awaited them. | As they were compulsorily shipped out of Britain, many of the children were told - wrongly - their parents were dead, and that a more abundant life awaited them. |
| Many parents did not know their children, aged as young as three, had been sent to Australia. | Many parents did not know their children, aged as young as three, had been sent to Australia. |
| Care agencies worked with the government to send disadvantaged children to a rosy future and supply what was deemed "good white stock" to a former colony. | |
| Sandra Anker was sent out to Australia when she was six years old | Sandra Anker was sent out to Australia when she was six years old |
| In many cases they were educated only for farm work, and suffered cruelty and hardship including physical, psychological and sexual abuse. | |
| In a letter to the chairman of the Health select committee this weekend, Mr Brown said "the time is now right" for the UK to apologise for the actions of previous governments. | |
| "It is important that we take the time to listen to the voices of the survivors and victims of these misguided policies," he wrote. | "It is important that we take the time to listen to the voices of the survivors and victims of these misguided policies," he wrote. |
| Kevin Barron, chairman of the health select committee - which has looked into what happened - said he was "very pleased" to have received a written commitment from Mr Brown. | Kevin Barron, chairman of the health select committee - which has looked into what happened - said he was "very pleased" to have received a written commitment from Mr Brown. |
| "After consultation with organisations directly involved with child migrants we are going to make an apology early in the new year," he said. | "After consultation with organisations directly involved with child migrants we are going to make an apology early in the new year," he said. |
| Children's Secretary Ed Balls told Sky News: "This happened for hundreds of years around the world and particularly in the 1950s and 1960s. | |
| "It's important that we now say this [an apology] so that people are aware." | |
| The founder of the Child Migrants Trust, Margaret Humphreys, has travelled from the UK to Canberra for Mr Rudd's apology. | The founder of the Child Migrants Trust, Margaret Humphreys, has travelled from the UK to Canberra for Mr Rudd's apology. |
| She said: "The trust has campaigned for over 20 years for this kind and degree of recognition. For child migrants, of course, it has been all their lives and for their families. | She said: "The trust has campaigned for over 20 years for this kind and degree of recognition. For child migrants, of course, it has been all their lives and for their families. |
| "This is a moment - a significant moment - in the history of child migration. The recognition is vital if people are to recover." | "This is a moment - a significant moment - in the history of child migration. The recognition is vital if people are to recover." |
| What do you think about the planned apology? Were you a child migrant? Do you know someone who was? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below: | What do you think about the planned apology? Were you a child migrant? Do you know someone who was? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |