Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2022 to Question 32512 on Derwent Immigration Removal Centre: Legal Profession and the Answer of 5 September 2022 to Question 40757 on Derwent Immigration Removal Centre: Legal Profession, how many in-person visits have been made by lawyers to women in Derwentside immigration removal centre (a) under the Detained Duty Advice Scheme and (b) in total since 8 July 2022.

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) operates free legal advice surgeries in immigration removal centres (IRCs) in England under the Detained Duty Advice Scheme (DDAS). Individuals who are detained are entitled to receive up to 30 minutes of advice regardless of financial eligibility or the merits of their case. There is no restriction on the number of surgeries an individual may attend. If an individual who is detained requires substantive advice on a matter which is in scope of legal aid, full legal advice can be provided if the statutory legal aid means and merits criteria are met.

Individuals detained in IRCs can also access privately commissioned legal advice, including legally aided advice provided through means other than the DDAS.

Access to legal advice across the immigration removal estate is facilitated through remote means (by telephone and video conferencing) as well as in-person visits on request. All people in IRCs are provided with a mobile phone and have access to landline telephones on request, fax machines, email and video calling facilities, which can be used to contact legal representatives, family, or friends.

Between 8 July 2022 and 21 September 2022, there have been a total of 38 in-person legal visits at Derwentside IRC. All 38 appointments have been facilitated by the DDAS.