The dawn raids have sparked new protests by campaigners

The deportation of a Kosovan family led to criticism of the policy, with Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm describing it as "heavy-handed".

Immigration Minister Tony McNulty has defended the tactics and dubbed some criticism "intemperate".

Scotland's minister for young people, Peter Peacock, said "productive" talks had been taking place.

The Home Office was criticised over a dawn raid on the home of the Vucaj family in Glasgow last month.

The Kosovan family had lived in Glasgow for five years but their application to stay was refused and they were deported to Albania.

We've had some very constructive discussions between officials with the Home Office and that takes place after the first minister spoke to Charles Clarke, the home secretary Peter Peacock Minister for young people

Eyewitnesses and campaigners complained about the tactics employed in the early morning raid amid reports that the distressed children were led away in pyjamas.

Following widespread criticism of the effects of the raids on children of asylum seekers, First Minister Jack McConnell said he had reached an agreement with the Home Office about the involvement of social work and education officials in future cases in Scotland.

Mr McNulty has defended the Home Office's record on the raids and said the use of such tactics could not be ruled out in the future.

He said: "I simply can't say that because each and every case is risk-assessed.

"I would be more than happy if there was never an enforced removal again and it was all done on a voluntary basis.

The Vucaj family lost their fight to stay in the UK

"But given the circumstances, given the people at the end of the road in terms of their legal process, I'm afraid making an appointment at midday saying 'we're going to pop round and take you away, is that okay' more often than not will result in nobody being there when you get there."

Mr Peacock, Scotland's minister for education and young people, denied that Mr McNulty's stance was a rebuff and said the review of the process was continuing.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We've had some very constructive discussions between officials with the Home Office and that takes place after the first minister spoke to Charles Clarke, the home secretary, where they agreed that it was advisable to have a protocol.

"We're working on that and I have to say that so far the discussions have been productive.

"But we've still got a bit to go, we've got a long way to go in teasing out what are very complex issues in how we want our social services and our schools and potentially others involved in the process.

"In what the nature of advanced notification would be, what the timings involved would be, a whole range of practical details are being worked on now by officials."

Robina Qureshi, director of the ethnic-minority-led charity Positive Action in Housing, condemned Mr McNulty's comments.

She said: "His remarks make it clear that the Home Office has nothing but outright contempt for the feelings of Scottish people, the Scottish Parliament, Scotland's children's commissioner, our communities minister, the first minister and of course Scottish asylum-seeking families, many of whom have been settled here for years."