Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons Report on an unannounced inspection of the detention of migrants arriving in Dover in small boats, published on 23 October; and what steps they intend to take to address the key concerns expressed in that report.

The Government have accepted nineteen of the recommendations made in Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons report, in full or part, and rejected only one (access to social media sites).

The report and recommendations have been considered and the Government’s response has been published https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/10/23/fact-sheet-short-term-holding-facilities-and-processing-centres-for-small-boats-crossings/ . We would refer to the measures and improvements listed there.

We take the welfare of people in our care very seriously and are committed to ensuring our triaging and short-term holding facilities are safe, secure and humane and follow the latest guidance from Public Health England.

We are adhering to our statutory duties in all aspects, from safeguarding children, to providing the necessary medical requirements to those who have undertaken this dangerous journey.