Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking in response to allegations that contractors in her Department have paid for sex while accompanying migrants being deported overseas.

We expect all suppliers operating on behalf of the Home Office to behave with professionalism and in line with the high standards outlined in the published operating standards, Detention Services Orders and service delivery contracts.

The Home Office take all reports of sexual exploitation extremely seriously and accordingly have been engaged with Mitie Care & Custody to ensure a thorough investigation of the allegations with contemporaneous updates.

At present, the investigation into these claims has found no evidence of the alleged behaviour. We have instructed Mitie to provide us with a full account of their investigation as soon as it is formally concluded.