Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to (a) publish torture guidance protocols and (b) consult (i) human rights organisations and (ii) others on protocols and guidelines relating to the torture of detainees.

The Government laid draft revised statutory guidance before Parliament on 21 March 2018, and the corresponding statutory instruments on 27 March, to implement a new definition of torture for the purposes of immigration detention. The new definition of torture and the revised statutory guidance give effect to a recent High Court judgment. Whilst there was no obligation to consult on these changes, officials have engaged with interested stakeholders. Officials will continue this engagement on the corresponding caseworker guidance and training. Additionally, the Detention Centre Rules 2001 will be reviewed later this year and NGOs will have an opportunity to comment on the draft then.