Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have approved the withdrawal of religious support for detainees at Harmondsworth and Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centres.

The provision of religious and spiritual support for detainees in immigration removal centres (IRC) is a statutory requirement of the Detention Centre Rules 2001, IRC Operating Standards and is a contractual or service level specification for all centre operators. These provisions have not and will not be withdrawn at any centre.

Arrangements for the observance of Ramadan are in place at all IRCs. This includes special catering arrangements to allow the breaking of the fast at the prescribed time. The Home Office is consulted about the arrangements to ensure that they are appropriate.

There have been no complaints about the amount of food provided at the Heathrow centres and catering provision will be monitored during Ramadan as it is throughout the year.