Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd March 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bates]

I listen to what the noble and learned Lord says on this of course. This subject was debated in your Lordships’ House in the context of the amendment to the Immigration Act proposed by the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, in which she sought a cap of 60 days. We have to look at this, but we are making progress. One serious point—I am not making any cheap points here—is that it was not so long ago, in 2008, that children, even disabled children, were held at Yarl’s Wood. We have moved on from that. We are now focusing on pregnant women and the treatment of women there, and I expect us to continue to make progress in the way that we treat people who are in our care.

[Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Con)]

My Lords, we will hear from the government Benches next and then from the Opposition.

[Baroness Hamwee (LD)]

My Lords, I hope that the Minister will understand if I say to him gently that there is a sense in this Statement of the Government distancing themselves from responsibility. Will he also accept that there is an underlying issue, not just of practice but of policy? We are one of very few countries in Europe not to have a maximum time limit on detention. Internationally, there are a lot of good examples of constructive engagement and alternatives to detention rather than a focus on end-stage enforcement. Detention is so often not needed. I was a member of the all-party group inquiry, and the Chief Inspector of Prisons said to us that,

“at least a third, and getting on for half, of all detainees are released back into the community. And this poses the question: if they’re suitable to be released back into the community at that point, why do they need to be detained in the first place?”.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Ramsbotham (CB)]

My Lords—

[Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth]

It is the Cross Benches next, and then if there is time, the government Benches.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Elton]

My Lords—

[Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth]

We have heard from the Liberal Democrats, it is for the Conservatives next.

[Lord Elton]

My Lords, it has happened more than once in this and related fields that a monitoring body reports all is well, and shortly afterwards it is revealed that all is very far from well. Is it not an occasion for a rigorous examination and consideration of the methods used by the monitoring body itself? How often is that done?