Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Richard Fuller Excerpts
Wednesday 13th December 2023

(4 months, 4 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Stuart Andrew Portrait Stuart Andrew
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I completely agree with the hon. Lady. It was a very important review, and I am glad that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made an apology at the Dispatch Box. There will be a statement later, and I suggest that she asks the Defence Minister a question at that point.

Richard Fuller Portrait Richard Fuller (North East Bedfordshire) (Con)
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Every year, 800 women pass through immigration detention, including centres such as Yarl’s Wood in my constituency. Many of those women have been trafficked or are victims of sexual abuse. I am working with a group, Women for Refugee Women, to provide a snapshot of the backgrounds of these women. Will the Minister agree to meet us to analyse the results of their findings?

Laura Farris Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Laura Farris)
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I would of course be happy to meet my hon. Friend. Women who have survived trafficking or sexual abuse are detained only when the evidence of vulnerability in their individual case is outweighed by immigration removal considerations. Victims of torture have their case considered by a single specialist team, autonomous of general caseworkers, and victims of modern slavery undergo a needs assessment to identify recovery needs.