Asked by: Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to introduce a robust screening process so that immigrants and asylum seekers who are survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and others who are recognised as vulnerable under their adults at risk policy, are identified before they are detained.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
In response to the Stephen Shaw review the Government has introduced a range of measures to identify and safeguard vulnerable people liable to be detained for immigration purposes
The adults at risk in immigration detention policy, which came into force on 12 September 2016 has introduced a case-by-case evidence-based assessment of the appropriateness of detention for any individual, including victims of sexual or gender based violence, who is considered vulnerable, balanced against the immigration control considerations that apply in their case.
The policy is supported by the cross-cutting Detention Gatekeeper, which assesses vulnerability and provides challenge to decisions about who enters immigration detention, and scrutinises prospects and speed of removal.
The Detention Centre Rules 2001 (Statutory Instrument) and published Home Office guidance provide additional safeguards including individuals being offered a physical and mental examination within 24 hours of admission to detention, a requirement for immigration removal centre doctors to report to the Home Office any special illness or conditions (including torture) that might affect an individual remaining in detention and processes for staff to follow when there has been a change to the physical or mental health of a detainee, or a change in the nature or severity of their identified vulnerability, that may impact on the decision to detain.
Asked by: Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average duration of detention for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the UK in 2017.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Information on the length of detention of people leaving detention is available in tables dt_06_q and dt_09_q of the detention tables in the latest releases of ‘Immigration Statistics, July to September 2017’, available from the Home Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/662536/detention-jul-sep-2017-tables.ods.
The table includes a breakdown of adults and child detainees who have previously claimed asylum at some stage. However, we cannot identify those minors which were unaccompanied. Figures for Q4 2017 will be released on 22 February 2018.
People leaving detention by length of detention, January to September 2017 | |||
Length of detention | Total Detainees | Of which: Adult asylum detainees | Child asylum detainees |
*Total | 20,730 | 10,222 | 24 |
A: 3 days or less | 5,514 | 2,044 | 21 |
B: 4 to 7 days | 1,483 | 855 | 2 |
C: 8 to 14 days | 2,604 | 1,086 | 1 |
D: 15 to 28 days | 3,619 | 1,550 | 0 |
E: 29 days to less than 2 months | 3,494 | 1,875 | 0 |
F: 2 months to less than 3 months | 1,566 | 978 | 0 |
G: 3 months to less than 4 months | 794 | 546 | 0 |
H: 4 months to less than 6 months | 813 | 631 | 0 |
I: 6 months to less than 12 months | 680 | 536 | 0 |
J: 12 months to less than 18 months | 100 | 75 | 0 |
K: 18 months to less than 24 months | 41 | 31 | 0 |
L: 24 months to less than 36 months | 20 | 15 | 0 |
M: 36 months to less than 48 months | 2 | 0 | 0 |
N: 48 months or more | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Figures are provisional. | |||
Asylum detainees: People detained solely under Immigration Act powers | |||
who are recorded as having sought asylum at some stage. | |||
The median length of detention for adults, who had claimed asylum at some point, between January and September 2017, was between 15 and 28 days. There are a small number of detainees who have been detained for long periods of time, which would skew the mean value. The median is therefore the most suitable average for these data.
Asked by: Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average duration of detention for all minors seeking asylum in the UK in 2017.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Information on the length of detention of people leaving detention is available in tables dt_06_q and dt_09_q of the detention tables in the latest releases of ‘Immigration Statistics, July to September 2017’, available from the Home Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/662536/detention-jul-sep-2017-tables.ods.
The table includes a breakdown of adults and child detainees who have previously claimed asylum at some stage. However, we cannot identify those minors which were unaccompanied. Figures for Q4 2017 will be released on 22 February 2018.
People leaving detention by length of detention, January to September 2017 | |||
Length of detention | Total Detainees | Of which: Adult asylum detainees | Child asylum detainees |
*Total | 20,730 | 10,222 | 24 |
A: 3 days or less | 5,514 | 2,044 | 21 |
B: 4 to 7 days | 1,483 | 855 | 2 |
C: 8 to 14 days | 2,604 | 1,086 | 1 |
D: 15 to 28 days | 3,619 | 1,550 | 0 |
E: 29 days to less than 2 months | 3,494 | 1,875 | 0 |
F: 2 months to less than 3 months | 1,566 | 978 | 0 |
G: 3 months to less than 4 months | 794 | 546 | 0 |
H: 4 months to less than 6 months | 813 | 631 | 0 |
I: 6 months to less than 12 months | 680 | 536 | 0 |
J: 12 months to less than 18 months | 100 | 75 | 0 |
K: 18 months to less than 24 months | 41 | 31 | 0 |
L: 24 months to less than 36 months | 20 | 15 | 0 |
M: 36 months to less than 48 months | 2 | 0 | 0 |
N: 48 months or more | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Figures are provisional. | |||
Asylum detainees: People detained solely under Immigration Act powers | |||
who are recorded as having sought asylum at some stage. | |||
The median length of detention for adults, who had claimed asylum at some point, between January and September 2017, was between 15 and 28 days. There are a small number of detainees who have been detained for long periods of time, which would skew the mean value. The median is therefore the most suitable average for these data.
Asked by: Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average duration of detention for adult asylum seekers in the UK in 2017.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Information on the length of detention of people leaving detention is available in tables dt_06_q and dt_09_q of the detention tables in the latest releases of ‘Immigration Statistics, July to September 2017’, available from the Home Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/662536/detention-jul-sep-2017-tables.ods.
The table includes a breakdown of adults and child detainees who have previously claimed asylum at some stage. However, we cannot identify those minors which were unaccompanied. Figures for Q4 2017 will be released on 22 February 2018.
People leaving detention by length of detention, January to September 2017 | |||
Length of detention | Total Detainees | Of which: Adult asylum detainees | Child asylum detainees |
*Total | 20,730 | 10,222 | 24 |
A: 3 days or less | 5,514 | 2,044 | 21 |
B: 4 to 7 days | 1,483 | 855 | 2 |
C: 8 to 14 days | 2,604 | 1,086 | 1 |
D: 15 to 28 days | 3,619 | 1,550 | 0 |
E: 29 days to less than 2 months | 3,494 | 1,875 | 0 |
F: 2 months to less than 3 months | 1,566 | 978 | 0 |
G: 3 months to less than 4 months | 794 | 546 | 0 |
H: 4 months to less than 6 months | 813 | 631 | 0 |
I: 6 months to less than 12 months | 680 | 536 | 0 |
J: 12 months to less than 18 months | 100 | 75 | 0 |
K: 18 months to less than 24 months | 41 | 31 | 0 |
L: 24 months to less than 36 months | 20 | 15 | 0 |
M: 36 months to less than 48 months | 2 | 0 | 0 |
N: 48 months or more | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Figures are provisional. | |||
Asylum detainees: People detained solely under Immigration Act powers | |||
who are recorded as having sought asylum at some stage. | |||
The median length of detention for adults, who had claimed asylum at some point, between January and September 2017, was between 15 and 28 days. There are a small number of detainees who have been detained for long periods of time, which would skew the mean value. The median is therefore the most suitable average for these data.
Asked by: Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the independent review of mental health legislation will review those sections of the Mental Health Act 1983 that apply to (1) prisoners, and (2) those charged with offences.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The terms of reference of the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act ask the review to identify issues across the breadth of the Act and associated practice, including those elements relating to prisoners and those charged with offences. In particular, the terms of reference highlight stakeholder concerns about ‘the time required to take decisions and arrange transfers for patients subject to criminal proceedings’.
Asked by: Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current provision of medium and low secure beds in England; and what percentage of those beds are occupied.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
Since April 2013 NHS England has been responsible for commissioning all secure inpatient mental health care services nationally. The current number of beds in medium secure services in England is 3,188 and 3,348 in low secure. The data is provided by NHS England and is taken from the Mental Health Service Review Programme based on 2015/16 contracts.
The percentage of beds occupied will vary, depending on when the information is collected. However, where beds are contracted with an occupancy threshold, this is usually between 93% and 96% across the various contracts held by NHS England for these services.
The information provided refers to adult medium and low secure beds.
Asked by: Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made with plans to collect and report the length of stays in secure inpatient care.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
NHS England is currently carrying out a review of the information collected in relation to all mental health services. This review will include the collection and reporting of data on the length of stays in secure inpatient care.
It is expected that information on the length of stays will be reported by NHS England going forward.
Asked by: Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment the Secretary of State for Justice has made of the current provision of mental health assessments and treatment in the prison and probation systems.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We take mental health provision very seriously and are committed to working closely with health partners to ensure that offenders are assessed at the appropriate time and are able to access the treatment and support required for their mental health needs.
Health services in English prisons are commissioned by NHS England. In the community, NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups are responsible for commissioning health services, including mental health services, for the general population in their locality, including offenders on probation. NHS England are responsible for making assessments of the current provision of mental health assessments and treatment in the prison systems in England. We are committed to working closely with them to support this responsibility.
Mental Health is devolved to the Welsh Government and NHS Wales. Local Health Boards are commissioned to deliver these services in public sector prisons in Wales, which includes mental health assessments and treatment. There are separate arrangements for the private prison HMP Parc.
Asked by: Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions the Secretary of State for Justice has had with the Prison Officers' Association regarding recruitment and retention in the Prison Service, and when he next plans to meet staff representatives.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Much communication has taken place between the Secretary of State and the Prison Officers’ Association through written correspondence. The Secretary of State spoke with the POA on 21 June 2017 and met with them on 29 June 2017 to discuss several important subjects, including Prison Officer recruitment and retention.
The Prisons Minister also plans to meet with the POA on 23 October 2017.
Asked by: Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Secretary of State for Justice intends to implement the ratio of personal responsibility for six prisoners being given to every prison officer, as stated during scrutiny of the Prisons and Courts Bill.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We want our prisons to be places where staff and offenders feel safe and where those in our care are challenged and supported to make the most effective use of their time in custody to best prepare them for release.
This is why we have committed to the introduction of the new Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) model will improve the way in which we case manage offenders through their sentence and on to release.
We have therefore invested £100m to boost the front line by 2,500 prison officers by the end of December 2018. These additional officers will enable us to rollout the OMiC model. The key worker model is currently being rolled out across the prison estate which started with 11 ‘pathfinder’ prisons, 4 of which have had sufficient numbers of new officers to commence their keyworker sessions.