Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the death of a man detained at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre on 29 October, whether all suppliers in every immigration removal centre, including Brook House, undertook an ad hoc assessment of all open and post closure local 'assessment care in detention teamwork' files, as required by paragraph 52 of the Detention Services Order 08/2014, published in July 2021.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Any death in immigration detention is a tragic event and our condolences are with the family and friends of the individual who sadly died on 27 October at Brook House immigration removal centre (IRC).
The published Home Office Detention Services Order 08/2014 “Death in immigration detention” provides guidance as to the actions that Home Office and contracted supplier staff must take in the event of a death in detention.
Centre suppliers at Brook House IRC and across the immigration detention estate assessed all open and post closure Assessment, Care in Detention and Teamwork (ACDT) cases the day following the death, with formal reviews undertaken for those considered particularly vulnerable to the news and at increased risk of self-harm.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the death of a man detained at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre on 29 October, whether formal 'assessment care in detention teamwork' reviews were completed for all categories of person set out at paragraph 52 of the Detention Services Order 08/2014, published in July 2021.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Any death in immigration detention is a tragic event and our condolences are with the family and friends of the individual who sadly died on 27 October at Brook House immigration removal centre (IRC).
The published Home Office Detention Services Order 08/2014 “Death in immigration detention” provides guidance as to the actions that Home Office and contracted supplier staff must take in the event of a death in detention.
Centre suppliers at Brook House IRC and across the immigration detention estate assessed all open and post closure Assessment, Care in Detention and Teamwork (ACDT) cases the day following the death, with formal reviews undertaken for those considered particularly vulnerable to the news and at increased risk of self-harm.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the death on 29 October of a man while detained at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, what steps have been taken to provide those detained there with counselling and other forms of bereavement support; and how and when were those people notified of such support.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Any death in immigration detention is a tragic event and our condolences are with the family and friends of the individual who sadly died on 27 October at Brook House immigration removal centre (IRC).
On the night of the individual’s death, notices were circulated by the supplier, notifying residents of the death and offering immediate wellbeing support with custodial staff tasked to make any necessary referrals to the healthcare mental health team for onward care. Centre staff and the healthcare and chaplaincy teams provided support to any residents who wanted to speak to staff, including face to face meetings and signposting to Samaritans and bereavement helplines. Additionally, the chaplaincy team arranged a memorial service for all faiths the following day. Residents attending this service who wished to talk were referred on to the healthcare mental health team.
Centre suppliers at Brook House IRC and across the immigration detention estate assessed all open and post closure Assessment, Care in Detention and Teamwork (ACDT) cases the day following the death, with formal reviews undertaken for those considered particularly vulnerable to the news and at increased risk of self-harm.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have commissioned an independent needs assessment for the Wethersfield asylum accommodation site.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office commissioned an independent needs assessment via the British Red Cross earlier this year. Following two visits to the site in March and April, the assessment was shared with the Home Office in May. The Home Office have been working with the British Red Cross to discuss recommendations and implement any necessary changes to the site.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to increase occupancy of Wethersfield asylum accommodation so that it is capped at 800 once the conditions of the special development order have been discharged.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Occupancy at the Wethersfield site is currently capped at 580 as part of the Special Development Order. This means that during current operation of the site, the population will not exceed 580.
Once the relevant Special Development Order conditions have been discharged, regular occupancy will be capped at 800. Any increase in occupancy will take place in a carefully managed way.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many visas were issued in 2023 with a 'no recourse to public funds' condition attached.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not publish information on the number of visas that were issued with a 'no recourse to public funds' condition attached.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to change the current system for French school groups visiting the UK, for which they are permitted to produce other forms of identity in place of a passport.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We permit the use of national identity cards for French schoolchildren (aged 18 and under) travelling on organised trips and waive UK visa requirements for their classmates who are visa nationals. Their responsible adults must be in possession of a fully completed and authenticated form listing the participants in the trip. French schools can access the form online from gov.uk. More information and a link to the form can be found at: Visit the UK as part of a French school trip - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
In advance of the ETA scheme opening to applications from European nationals next year, the Government has considered the implications of the scheme on French school groups visiting the UK, and has agreed that children aged 18 and under travelling as part of a French school group will be temporarily exempted from the ETA requirement until a group solution is developed. This will allow EU, EEA and Swiss children to continue to use their identity cards on organised French school trips to the UK.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the implications of the Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme on school groups visiting the UK from France.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We permit the use of national identity cards for French schoolchildren (aged 18 and under) travelling on organised trips and waive UK visa requirements for their classmates who are visa nationals. Their responsible adults must be in possession of a fully completed and authenticated form listing the participants in the trip. French schools can access the form online from gov.uk. More information and a link to the form can be found at: Visit the UK as part of a French school trip - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
In advance of the ETA scheme opening to applications from European nationals next year, the Government has considered the implications of the scheme on French school groups visiting the UK, and has agreed that children aged 18 and under travelling as part of a French school group will be temporarily exempted from the ETA requirement until a group solution is developed. This will allow EU, EEA and Swiss children to continue to use their identity cards on organised French school trips to the UK.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Home Office staff work at the Wethersfield accommodation site.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
ClearSprings Ready Homes (CRH) operates the Wethersfield site on behalf of the Home Office and is responsible for the safeguarding of those accommodated there.
The site and CRH are overseen by a Home Office assurance team which includes a dedicated safeguarding lead and an on-site senior responsible officer.
CRH delivers asylum accommodation and support services across the South and Wales regions. There are a number of requirements in the Asylum Accommodation and Support contract regarding safeguarding and identifying and responding to specific needs of residents. CRH operates in line with both the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract Safeguarding Framework and Safeguarding Reporting Protocol.
Along with our accommodation providers, we have robust processes in place to ensure that where someone is at risk, they are referred to the appropriate statutory agencies for the appropriate safeguarding interventions.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is a requirement for employees at the Wethersfield accommodation site to be trained in detecting signs of trauma and torture, as well as mental health awareness.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
ClearSprings Ready Homes (CRH) operates the Wethersfield site on behalf of the Home Office and is responsible for the safeguarding of those accommodated there.
The site and CRH are overseen by a Home Office assurance team which includes a dedicated safeguarding lead and an on-site senior responsible officer.
CRH delivers asylum accommodation and support services across the South and Wales regions. There are a number of requirements in the Asylum Accommodation and Support contract regarding safeguarding and identifying and responding to specific needs of residents. CRH operates in line with both the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract Safeguarding Framework and Safeguarding Reporting Protocol.
Along with our accommodation providers, we have robust processes in place to ensure that where someone is at risk, they are referred to the appropriate statutory agencies for the appropriate safeguarding interventions.