Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will list (a) the Non-Governmental Organisations with access to Immigration Removal Centres, (b) the purpose of their access and (c) which centres have they visited in the last 12 months.

Individuals or organisations who do not have a statutory right of access and who wish to view an immigration removal centre are required under the provisions of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 to obtain the permission of the Secretary of State. Published Detention Services Order 04/2012 ‘Visitors and visiting procedures’ sets out the practical arrangements in place for visitors to the immigration detention estate.

Several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) regularly visit immigration removal centres to provide a range of different services including advocacy, welfare services, religious support and mental health provision. In addition, the Home Office, NHS (England) and our suppliers have grant or contractual arrangements with a small number of NGOs.

Visiting NGOs include Samaritans; British Red Cross; Gatwick Detainee Welfare Group; Bail for Immigration Detainees; Medical Justice; and the Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees (AVID). The Home Office does not hold a central record of NGO visits to individual centres.