Home Office: All Documents

Written Question

Asylum: Detainees

Friday 29th November 2024

Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to publish the criteria for determining which individuals seeking asylum will be subject to detention.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has published guidance for determining who can be detained under immigration powers including those who are seeking asylum.

‘Detained Asylum Casework’ sets out for the criteria for our caseworkers to determine under which circumstances asylum claimants may be detained, and their claims routed for consideration and decision under the process. This is available at the link below:

detained-asylum-process-v5.0.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk).

‘Detention: general instructions’ sets out the criteria for making detention decisions and deciding whether to maintain detention. This is available at the link below:

Detention: general instructions (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Written Question

Migrants: Detainees

Friday 29th November 2024

Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle abuse in immigration detention centres.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

We expect all suppliers operating on behalf of the Home Office to treat detained individuals with decency and respect, behaving in line with the high standards outlined in the Detention Centre Rules, published operating standards and service delivery contracts.

A range of safety and security safeguards operate in all IRCs to ensure the safety of all detained individuals, staff and visitors.

The Home Office is reviewing current processes in relation to violence prevention and use of force and have introduced a programme focused on improving the overall culture in IRCs. A new staffing model delivers a considerably improved ratio of custodial staff per detained individual. This is tailored to each centre’s requirements and layout, deploying staff where they are most needed as they support detained individuals in their journey through detention.

Written Question

Migrants: Detainees

Friday 29th November 2024

Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory time limit on immigration detention.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

There are currently no plans to introduce a time limit on immigration detention. This would risk significantly weakening our ability to remove those who have breached our immigration laws or who refuse to leave the UK voluntarily.

Written Question

Illegal Migration Act 2023

Friday 29th November 2024

Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has plans to repeal the Illegal Migration Act 2023.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has made clear the that the migration partnership with Rwanda will end. Consequently, the Government is considering all options connected with ending that partnership, including for the entirety of the Illegal Migration Act 2023. Legislative plans will be published in due course.

I refer the Honourable Member to PQ 4812.