Asked by: Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 29 January, the statement that “for detention to be lawful, there must be a realistic prospect of the individual’s removal from the UK within a reasonable timescale”, and the travel restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what steps they are taking to find alternative ways in which those placed in detention centres are managed.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The health and safety of those in immigration removal centres is of the utmost importance but we remain committed to removing foreign national offenders or those who violate our immigration rules.
Detention plays a key role in securing our borders and maintaining effective immigration control. Decisions to detain are made on a case-by-case basis and kept under constant review. As circumstances of the case change, detention is reviewed in light of these changes and release may then become appropriate. However, it is only right that we protect the public from high-harm individuals, which is why the vast majority of those in detention are foreign national offenders.
The Home Office is following all Public Health England guidance and have robust contingency plans in place including measures such as protective isolation to minimise the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the immigration detention estate. Further measures including shielding, single occupancy rooms and the cessation of social visits have been introduced in line with the Government direction on social distancing.
Asked by: Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide healthcare and support services to people in immigration removal centres during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Home Office continues to follow national guidance issued by Public Health England (PHE), Health Protection Scotland and the National Health Service. In addition, all immigration removal centres have communicable disease contingency plans, based on PHE advice. Measures such as protective isolation and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) are being used to minimise the risk of COVID-19 spreading to vulnerable groups in immigration removal centres.
Basic hygiene is a key part of tackling COVID-19. Handwashing facilities are available in all immigration removal centres and we are working closely with suppliers to ensure adequate supply of soap and cleaning materials.
All immigration removal centres have dedicated health facilities run by doctors and nurses which are managed by the NHS or appropriate providers.
Asked by: Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that those placed in detention centres are not held indefinitely; and what plans, if any, they have to restrict detention in immigration centres to 28 days.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The law does not permit indefinite detention. For detention to be lawful there must be a realistic prospect of the individual’s removal from the UK within a reasonable timescale.
Most of those people detained for immigration purposes spend only short periods in detention. In the year ending September 2019, 96% left detention within 4 months and 73% in no longer than 28 days.