Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on the compatibility UK detention centres with international human rights law.

The safety and welfare of all those in our care is of the utmost importance and we accept nothing but the highest standards from those companies employed to provide detention and escorting services on our behalf.

Individuals detained in the immigration detention estate must be treated in accordance with the Detention Centre Rules 2001, the operating standards for IRCs and Detention Services Orders. Service providers for IRCs are contractually required to comply with all relevant UK legislation.

Immigration removal centres (IRC) suppliers are required to provide a safe and secure environment for detained individuals in their care and the conditions and facilities at all immigration detention facilities are kept under regular review.

IRCs are subject to statutory oversight by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons and by Independent Monitoring Boards who are both members of the National Preventative Mechanism comprising a group of independent bodies which monitor the treatment of and conditions for detained individuals. This contributes to the UK’s response to its international obligations under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) visited the UK from 25 to 28 November 2022 and met the Minister for Immigration and senior officials. Their report is scheduled to be published in 2023.