Blunkett asylum plans are attacked by Labour rebels

David Blunkett suffered a backbench rebellion last night when 42 Labour MPs defied the Home Secretary over proposals to educate the children of asylum-seekers in accommodation centres.

The rebels voted against the Government in an attempt to ensure the children of asylum-seekers had access to a mainstream state education instead of being "segregated".

The Commons overturned a defeat in the House of Lords, voting by 263 to 96, government majority 167. But Labour MPs, including the former ministers Tony Lloyd and Glenda Jackson, voted against the change.

The rebellion came despite a range of concessions to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill, including moves to scrap proposals to build a huge centre to house asylum-seekers in Worcestershire.

The Home Office minister Beverley Hughes insisted that the trial accommodation centres would be a secure place for the children of asylum-seekers to be taught and to improve their English, free from the problems of moving into mainstream schools. Ms Hughes said: "The potential that a period of stability and education geared to their needs in a centre can offer them ... can be a positive advantage."

Ms Jackson, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate, said she had a "certain amount of difficulty" in understanding how the experience of a child could be improved by educating them in such a centre.

Another rebel, Neil Gerrard, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, said: "Children coming here to Britain are often victims of discrimination and segregation in other countries and what are we going to do with them the moment they arrive ­ segregate them again. How can we justify that?"

The rebellion came despite a series of concessions on the Bill, which was defeated eight times by peers.

Plans for a 750-place accommodation centre at Throckmorton, Worcestershire, were dropped after fierce protests by local campaigners including the singer Toyah Willcox.

But ministers said they would press ahead with plans to build big accommodation centres at Bicester, Oxfordshire, and Newton in Nottinghamshire. But they bowed to concern from MPs and pressure groups by announcing that smaller centres in urban areas, with about 400 places, would also form part of the trial.

Other sites are being considered after a proposal for a "cluster" of hostels was put forward by the Refugee Council.

Further concessions made by the Government last night include imposing a six-month limit on the time most asylum-seekers stay in the centres. Ministers revised a controversial clause granting sweeping "Henry VIII" powers to amend the Bill to reassure opponents.

The debate came hours after Mr Blunkett announced there would be no new admissions to the Sangatte hostel in northern France, which has become a temporary home to thousands of asylum-seekers attempting to cross the Channel to Britain.

The 1,600 asylum-seekers remaining in the centre will have their cases assessed by French immigration staff and officials from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Some are likely to be forcibly removed and others will be offered assisted returns to their home countries.

A minority may be allowed to make claims in Britain, although British immigration officials suspect that 160 or fewer are genuine refugees.