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.

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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many residents at Wethersfield accommodation site have had their asylum case substantive interview since 1 September; and how many of these cases had a legal representative.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of people in asylum accommodation (including Wethersfield) in table Asy_D09 of the quarterly Immigration System Statistics, and on the number of interviews conducted in table Asy_05(M) of the Migration Transparency Data ‘Immigration and protection’ collection. However, there is no data published on whether individuals in a particular location have had an interview, or whether they had a legal representative.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many people were accommodated at Wethersfield asylum accommodation site on the first of every month from 1 May to date.

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.

The number of residents on the site at any one time is likely to vary due to a number of factors, including individuals having moved to onward dispersed accommodation while their claims are being considered.

The site has on-site primary healthcare delivered by a local healthcare provider Monday to Friday. This is run by healthcare professionals, a doctor and nurses, who offer systematic health assessments and are able to prescribe medication.

There is also a welfare facility and an accredited mental health nurse on site.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether a GP is present at Wethersfield asylum accommodation site on five days a week.

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.

The number of residents on the site at any one time is likely to vary due to a number of factors, including individuals having moved to onward dispersed accommodation while their claims are being considered.

The site has on-site primary healthcare delivered by a local healthcare provider Monday to Friday. This is run by healthcare professionals, a doctor and nurses, who offer systematic health assessments and are able to prescribe medication.

There is also a welfare facility and an accredited mental health nurse on site.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the make up of the on site medical team at Wethersfield asylum accommodation site.

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.

The number of residents on the site at any one time is likely to vary due to a number of factors, including individuals having moved to onward dispersed accommodation while their claims are being considered.

The site has on-site primary healthcare delivered by a local healthcare provider Monday to Friday. This is run by healthcare professionals, a doctor and nurses, who offer systematic health assessments and are able to prescribe medication.

There is also a welfare facility and an accredited mental health nurse on site.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the recommendations of the Brook House Inquiry report published on 19 September 2023, what changes will be made to the operation of Haslar and Campsfield immigration removal centres when they reopen.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is proceeding with plans to open two refurbished IRCs on the sites of the former Campsfield House IRC at Kidlington in Oxfordshire, and the former Haslar IRC in Gosport, Hampshire. Both sites will be a mixture of refurbished and new-build accommodation, built to the latest standards, and, once open, will provide safe, secure and fit for purpose accommodation.

Like other IRCs, both IRCs will house a mixture of time-served Foreign National Offenders and immigration offenders awaiting removal from the UK, in line with the Government’s priority to increase returns. The sites will be secure facilities, with a range of on-site services (including recreation, faith and medical services) available.

We are committed to ensuring the proper protection and treatment of vulnerable people in detention and in developing plans for the new sites, we will be taking concerns raised by inspection and monitoring bodies into account including the key findings made by the Brook House Inquiry. The Home Office has strengthened its capacity to provide assurance and oversight of services across the detention estate. This includes action to refresh and reinforce whistleblowing arrangements; improving information flows; and analysis of complaints, incidents, and use of force.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to reopen Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre, and if so, when.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is proceeding with plans to open two refurbished IRCs on the sites of the former Campsfield House IRC at Kidlington in Oxfordshire, and the former Haslar IRC in Gosport, Hampshire. Both sites will be a mixture of refurbished and new-build accommodation, built to the latest standards, and, once open, will provide safe, secure and fit for purpose accommodation.

Like other IRCs, both IRCs will house a mixture of time-served Foreign National Offenders and immigration offenders awaiting removal from the UK, in line with the Government’s priority to increase returns. The sites will be secure facilities, with a range of on-site services (including recreation, faith and medical services) available.

We are committed to ensuring the proper protection and treatment of vulnerable people in detention and in developing plans for the new sites, we will be taking concerns raised by inspection and monitoring bodies into account including the key findings made by the Brook House Inquiry. The Home Office has strengthened its capacity to provide assurance and oversight of services across the detention estate. This includes action to refresh and reinforce whistleblowing arrangements; improving information flows; and analysis of complaints, incidents, and use of force.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to reopen Haslar Immigration Removal Centre, and if so, when.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is proceeding with plans to open two refurbished IRCs on the sites of the former Campsfield House IRC at Kidlington in Oxfordshire, and the former Haslar IRC in Gosport, Hampshire. Both sites will be a mixture of refurbished and new-build accommodation, built to the latest standards, and, once open, will provide safe, secure and fit for purpose accommodation.

Like other IRCs, both IRCs will house a mixture of time-served Foreign National Offenders and immigration offenders awaiting removal from the UK, in line with the Government’s priority to increase returns. The sites will be secure facilities, with a range of on-site services (including recreation, faith and medical services) available.

We are committed to ensuring the proper protection and treatment of vulnerable people in detention and in developing plans for the new sites, we will be taking concerns raised by inspection and monitoring bodies into account including the key findings made by the Brook House Inquiry. The Home Office has strengthened its capacity to provide assurance and oversight of services across the detention estate. This includes action to refresh and reinforce whistleblowing arrangements; improving information flows; and analysis of complaints, incidents, and use of force.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what type of onsite mental health support is available at Wethersfield asylum accommodation site.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Individuals identified for the site are subject to a suitability assessment.

Each individual’s welfare is regularly checked to identify any concerns which may affect their suitability and to facilitate appropriate referrals and sign posting for support as needed.

The site has on-site primary healthcare delivered by a local healthcare provider Monday to Friday. This is run by healthcare professionals, a doctor and nurses, who offer health assessments and are able to prescribe medication.

There is also a welfare facility with welfare officers available 24/7.

All asylum seekers can contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year if they need help, advice, or guidance, that includes raising issues relating to safeguarding. From 16 June 2024, Migrant Help have been offering face-to-face appointments to asylum seekers on site across 3 days allowing them to raise any questions that they may have on any matter.

Subject to any individual assessments, the maximum length of stay for individual asylum seekers accommodated on site is 9 months, except where the Secretary of State is unable to find suitable onward dispersed accommodation despite reasonable efforts to do so.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average stay of individuals at Wethersfield asylum accommodation site.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Individuals identified for the site are subject to a suitability assessment.

Each individual’s welfare is regularly checked to identify any concerns which may affect their suitability and to facilitate appropriate referrals and sign posting for support as needed.

The site has on-site primary healthcare delivered by a local healthcare provider Monday to Friday. This is run by healthcare professionals, a doctor and nurses, who offer health assessments and are able to prescribe medication.

There is also a welfare facility with welfare officers available 24/7.

All asylum seekers can contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year if they need help, advice, or guidance, that includes raising issues relating to safeguarding. From 16 June 2024, Migrant Help have been offering face-to-face appointments to asylum seekers on site across 3 days allowing them to raise any questions that they may have on any matter.

Subject to any individual assessments, the maximum length of stay for individual asylum seekers accommodated on site is 9 months, except where the Secretary of State is unable to find suitable onward dispersed accommodation despite reasonable efforts to do so.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what methods are available for Ukrainian nationals displaced by war with temporary leave in the UK to bring a spouse or minor children to the UK.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Ukrainian family members, including children, are not prevented from entering the UK. The Homes for Ukraine Scheme remains open to new applicants, their applications must be sponsored by someone who is British, Irish or who has settled status.

Ukrainians who meet the eligibility criteria can also join family members through standard visa or family routes. More information can be found on Gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration.

Our Ukraine schemes are kept under continual review as we look to provide stability both for those we have welcomed to the UK and those who still need our sanctuary.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether immigration legal aid providers can be reached by public transport from the Wethersfield accommodation site.

Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

There are public transport routes within the vicinity of Wethersfield Accommodation Site from which it would be possible for residents to travel to legal aid providers who undertake immigration and asylum work. The site itself also runs a shuttle service three times a day into Colchester where residents can access legal aid services.

The legal aid contracts in place permit solicitors to travel to Wethersfield to provide advice and assistance where face to face advice is required and the client is unable to travel to the solicitor. In these cases, the solicitor will be paid for their reasonable travel time and costs.

Additionally, the Legal Aid Agency has introduced greater contractual flexibility under the 2024 Standard Civil Contract regarding the provision of remote advice. The Contract permits that up to 75% of immigration and asylum advice can be delivered remotely, compared against 50% in other civil categories. Remote provision can be an effective method of providing legal advice in the majority of cases. As such clients residing at Wethersfield are able to access remote advice from wider pool of legal aid providers reducing the need to travel out of area for advice.

Found: 16 October 2024 4 pm Watch the meeting Members present: Lord Goldsmith (The Chair); Lord Boateng; Lord