Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what public consultation has been undertaken prior to the commencement of plans to re-open the former Hassockfield Detention Centre in Medomsley as an Immigration Detention Centre; and what plans she has to hold a further public consultation before the planned opening of that centre in Autumn 2021.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has acquired the former Hassockfield Secure Training Centre in County Durham and will open it as an immigration removal centre by the autumn.
Initial discussions with Durham County Council have taken place and will continue throughout the development of plans for the site. Consultations with local councillors, other local stakeholders and interested non-governmental organisations including the Refugee Council, will take place over the coming months.
The former Medomsley Detention Centre was demolished and rebuilt in 1988. Whilst I have every sympathy for victims of historic abuse at the former centre, officials do not have plans to undertake any consultation on the future immigration removal centre.
Now in its second year, the Action Access pilot has provided women who would otherwise be detained with a programme of support in the community, including case management support. We are working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and they have appointed the National Centre for Social Research to independently evaluate this work, once the pilot concludes in March 2021. The evaluation is scheduled for publication in June 2021. We will use the evaluation to inform our future approach to case-management focused alternatives to detention.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the (a) number, (b) security and (c) pay of new jobs which will be created by plans to re-open the former Hassockfield Detention Centre in Medomsley as an Immigration Detention or Removal Centre in Autumn 2021.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has acquired the former Hassockfield Secure Training Centre in County Durham and will open it as an immigration removal centre by the autumn. The proposed site will provide modern, decent and secure accommodation for around 80 women. We expect approximately 200 permanent jobs to be created when the centre is fully operational.
Asked by: Baroness Hamwee (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for (1) the future use, and (2) the occupancy, of the former Hassockfield Detention Centre in Medomsley; and when these plans will be taken forward.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The immigration removal estate is kept under ongoing review to ensure that the Home Office has sufficient capacity, in the right places and that it provides value for money.
The Home Office has acquired the former Hassockfield Secure Training Centre in County Durham and will open it as an immigration removal centre for women by the autumn. Initial discussions with the planning authority have taken place and work has commenced at the site. An Equality Impact Assessment will be completed as part of this programme of work.
In order to meet operational needs and demands we will continue to operate the immigration removal estate in a flexible manner.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to open an immigration removal centre for women on the site of the former Hassockfield Detention Centre in Medomsley; and what plans they have to expand the use of engagement-focused alternatives to detention to resolve women’s immigration centres in the community.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The immigration removal estate is kept under ongoing review to ensure that the Home Office has sufficient capacity, in the right places and that it provides value for money.
The Home Office has acquired the former Hassockfield Secure Training Centre in County Durham and will open it as an immigration removal centre for women by the autumn. Initial discussions with the planning authority have taken place and work has commenced at the site. An Equality Impact Assessment will be completed as part of this programme of work.
Now in its second year, the Action Access pilot has provided women who would otherwise be detained with a programme of support in the community, including case management support. We are working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and they have appointed the National Centre for Social Research to independently evaluate this work, once the pilot concludes in March 2021. The evaluation is scheduled for publication in June 2021. We will use the evaluation to inform our future approach to case-management focused alternatives to detention.
In order to meet operational needs and demands we will continue to operate the immigration removal estate in a flexible manner.
Found: Medomsley Detention Centre
Mentions:
1: Liz Twist (LAB - Blaydon) past; the introduction of universal credit across the region and what that has meant for families; the Medomsley - Speech Link
2: Liz Twist (LAB - Blaydon) “Inside Out has been a beacon of investigative journalism in the region, your report on the Medomsley - Speech Link
Mar. 11 2020
Source Page: Homes England RFI releases for February 2020Found: Month Acquired Site Name LA Postcode Counterparty (Acquired From) Counterparty Type Jun-17 Blood Centre
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - North West Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
If he will commission an independent inquiry into the physical and sexual abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
This is a highly emotive issue and I understand how difficult it must be for the survivors of abuse and their families.
These matters remain the subject of a criminal investigation and legal action in the civil courts. Therefore, it would be inappropriate at present to commission an inquiry.
Mentions:
1: Chris Elmore (LAB - Ogmore) There is a specific problem with female reoffenders and there not being a women’s centre in Wales. - Speech Link
2: Robert Buckland (CON - South Swindon) Friend is right to mention the National Self Build & Renovation Centre. - Speech Link
3: Richard Holden (CON - North West Durham) Will the Government consider extending this to cover victims of rape, such as those at Medomsley Detention - Speech Link
4: Lucy Frazer (CON - South East Cambridgeshire) I have a huge amount of sympathy for the victims affected by the abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Lucy Allan (CON - Telford) his work and efforts, since his appointment, to focus on victims and to put their rights front and centre - Speech Link
2: Anthony Browne (CON - South Cambridgeshire) to the House.On 10 September 2001, I was in New York and had lunch with my wife at the World Trade Centre - Speech Link
3: Richard Holden (CON - North West Durham) There were more than 1,800 victims of sexual assault at the Medomsley detention centre between the 1960s - Speech Link