Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 26 April 2024 to Question 23168 on Asylum: Rwanda, what detention capacity the Home Office had on 24 April (a) 2023, (b) 2024, (c) 2021 and (d) 2020.
Answered by Michael Tomlinson
On 24 April 2020 the capacity of the immigration detention estate was c2300 immigration removal centre (IRC) beds (if all rooms and beds were in use). As a result of operational changes including the closure of Morton Hall IRC, detention capacity reduced to c1700 IRC beds on 24 April 2021, rising to c2158 IRC beds on 24 April 2023 and c2200 IRC beds on 24 April 2024, with more coming online in the coming months.
Immigration detention capacity figures are not static and are subject to operational demands.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department made of the potential for expanding alternatives to detention, including increasing local immigration casework capacities, prior to planning for the reopening of Campsfield House.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
The first Community Engagement Pilot, Action Access, provided women who would otherwise be detained with a programme of support in the community. This pilot concluded on 31 March 2021. The independent evaluation of Action Access was published on 24 January 2022.
The second pilot, the Refugee and Migrant Advisory Service, supported both men and women in the community and remained in operation for two years until June 2022. The independent evaluation of the Refugee and Migrant Advisory Service is expected early in the new year. We will use the UNHCR evaluations of these pilots to inform our future approach to case-management focused alternatives to detention.
Since 2018, information on deaths in immigration detention has been included in published immigration statistics on an annual basis. Data on the number of deaths of people detained under immigration powers in each year from 2017, are published in section 8 ‘detention and returns’, table Det_05b and b of the detention summary tables, found at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1098047/detention-summary-jun-2022-tables.ods
Critical incidents in the immigration removal estate are managed, where appropriate, through a command structure. The published guidance Detention Services Order 05/2015 ‘Reporting and Communicating Incidents in the Immigration Removal Estate’ defines the category of incidents (red, amber, green) and provides instruction and guidance for staff on reporting and communicating incidents. Red (critical) incidents relate to the management of an event outside of usual centre business that has, or potentially will have a serious impact on the operation of a facility or the safety and security of staff, detained people or the wider public.
The table below sets out the operational capacity for each immigration removal centre (if all rooms and beds are in use) from 2015 to date.
IRC | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
Brook House | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 450 |
Colnbrook | 396 | 391 | 391 | 339 | 339 | 330 | 330 | 330 |
Dungavel House | 249 | 249 | 249 | 249 | 249 | 125 | 125 | 121 |
Harmondsworth | 665 | 676 | 676 | 702 | 726 | 635 | 635 | 635 |
Morton Hall | 392 | 392 | 392 | 392 | 391 | 391 | 352 | - |
Tinsley House | 153 | 153 | 153 | 168 | 168 | 168 | 162 | 162 |
Yarl’s Wood | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 |
Derwentside | - | - | - | - | - | - | 84 | 84 |
Total | 2713 | 2719 | 2719 | 2708 | 2731 | 2507 | 2546 | 2192 |
The information sought on the distance individuals are moved across the UK from their place of residence in the community to an immigration removal centre is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will publish data on the distance individuals are moved across the UK from their place of residence in the community to an immigration removal centre.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
The first Community Engagement Pilot, Action Access, provided women who would otherwise be detained with a programme of support in the community. This pilot concluded on 31 March 2021. The independent evaluation of Action Access was published on 24 January 2022.
The second pilot, the Refugee and Migrant Advisory Service, supported both men and women in the community and remained in operation for two years until June 2022. The independent evaluation of the Refugee and Migrant Advisory Service is expected early in the new year. We will use the UNHCR evaluations of these pilots to inform our future approach to case-management focused alternatives to detention.
Since 2018, information on deaths in immigration detention has been included in published immigration statistics on an annual basis. Data on the number of deaths of people detained under immigration powers in each year from 2017, are published in section 8 ‘detention and returns’, table Det_05b and b of the detention summary tables, found at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1098047/detention-summary-jun-2022-tables.ods
Critical incidents in the immigration removal estate are managed, where appropriate, through a command structure. The published guidance Detention Services Order 05/2015 ‘Reporting and Communicating Incidents in the Immigration Removal Estate’ defines the category of incidents (red, amber, green) and provides instruction and guidance for staff on reporting and communicating incidents. Red (critical) incidents relate to the management of an event outside of usual centre business that has, or potentially will have a serious impact on the operation of a facility or the safety and security of staff, detained people or the wider public.
The table below sets out the operational capacity for each immigration removal centre (if all rooms and beds are in use) from 2015 to date.
IRC | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
Brook House | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 450 |
Colnbrook | 396 | 391 | 391 | 339 | 339 | 330 | 330 | 330 |
Dungavel House | 249 | 249 | 249 | 249 | 249 | 125 | 125 | 121 |
Harmondsworth | 665 | 676 | 676 | 702 | 726 | 635 | 635 | 635 |
Morton Hall | 392 | 392 | 392 | 392 | 391 | 391 | 352 | - |
Tinsley House | 153 | 153 | 153 | 168 | 168 | 168 | 162 | 162 |
Yarl’s Wood | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 |
Derwentside | - | - | - | - | - | - | 84 | 84 |
Total | 2713 | 2719 | 2719 | 2708 | 2731 | 2507 | 2546 | 2192 |
The information sought on the distance individuals are moved across the UK from their place of residence in the community to an immigration removal centre is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many bed spaces were available at each immigration removal centre in each year since 2015.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
The first Community Engagement Pilot, Action Access, provided women who would otherwise be detained with a programme of support in the community. This pilot concluded on 31 March 2021. The independent evaluation of Action Access was published on 24 January 2022.
The second pilot, the Refugee and Migrant Advisory Service, supported both men and women in the community and remained in operation for two years until June 2022. The independent evaluation of the Refugee and Migrant Advisory Service is expected early in the new year. We will use the UNHCR evaluations of these pilots to inform our future approach to case-management focused alternatives to detention.
Since 2018, information on deaths in immigration detention has been included in published immigration statistics on an annual basis. Data on the number of deaths of people detained under immigration powers in each year from 2017, are published in section 8 ‘detention and returns’, table Det_05b and b of the detention summary tables, found at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1098047/detention-summary-jun-2022-tables.ods
Critical incidents in the immigration removal estate are managed, where appropriate, through a command structure. The published guidance Detention Services Order 05/2015 ‘Reporting and Communicating Incidents in the Immigration Removal Estate’ defines the category of incidents (red, amber, green) and provides instruction and guidance for staff on reporting and communicating incidents. Red (critical) incidents relate to the management of an event outside of usual centre business that has, or potentially will have a serious impact on the operation of a facility or the safety and security of staff, detained people or the wider public.
The table below sets out the operational capacity for each immigration removal centre (if all rooms and beds are in use) from 2015 to date.
IRC | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
Brook House | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 450 |
Colnbrook | 396 | 391 | 391 | 339 | 339 | 330 | 330 | 330 |
Dungavel House | 249 | 249 | 249 | 249 | 249 | 125 | 125 | 121 |
Harmondsworth | 665 | 676 | 676 | 702 | 726 | 635 | 635 | 635 |
Morton Hall | 392 | 392 | 392 | 392 | 391 | 391 | 352 | - |
Tinsley House | 153 | 153 | 153 | 168 | 168 | 168 | 162 | 162 |
Yarl’s Wood | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 |
Derwentside | - | - | - | - | - | - | 84 | 84 |
Total | 2713 | 2719 | 2719 | 2708 | 2731 | 2507 | 2546 | 2192 |
The information sought on the distance individuals are moved across the UK from their place of residence in the community to an immigration removal centre is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make a comparative assessment of the relationship between increased bed spaces in an immigration removal centre and prevalence of code red incidents.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
The first Community Engagement Pilot, Action Access, provided women who would otherwise be detained with a programme of support in the community. This pilot concluded on 31 March 2021. The independent evaluation of Action Access was published on 24 January 2022.
The second pilot, the Refugee and Migrant Advisory Service, supported both men and women in the community and remained in operation for two years until June 2022. The independent evaluation of the Refugee and Migrant Advisory Service is expected early in the new year. We will use the UNHCR evaluations of these pilots to inform our future approach to case-management focused alternatives to detention.
Since 2018, information on deaths in immigration detention has been included in published immigration statistics on an annual basis. Data on the number of deaths of people detained under immigration powers in each year from 2017, are published in section 8 ‘detention and returns’, table Det_05b and b of the detention summary tables, found at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1098047/detention-summary-jun-2022-tables.ods
Critical incidents in the immigration removal estate are managed, where appropriate, through a command structure. The published guidance Detention Services Order 05/2015 ‘Reporting and Communicating Incidents in the Immigration Removal Estate’ defines the category of incidents (red, amber, green) and provides instruction and guidance for staff on reporting and communicating incidents. Red (critical) incidents relate to the management of an event outside of usual centre business that has, or potentially will have a serious impact on the operation of a facility or the safety and security of staff, detained people or the wider public.
The table below sets out the operational capacity for each immigration removal centre (if all rooms and beds are in use) from 2015 to date.
IRC | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
Brook House | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 450 |
Colnbrook | 396 | 391 | 391 | 339 | 339 | 330 | 330 | 330 |
Dungavel House | 249 | 249 | 249 | 249 | 249 | 125 | 125 | 121 |
Harmondsworth | 665 | 676 | 676 | 702 | 726 | 635 | 635 | 635 |
Morton Hall | 392 | 392 | 392 | 392 | 391 | 391 | 352 | - |
Tinsley House | 153 | 153 | 153 | 168 | 168 | 168 | 162 | 162 |
Yarl’s Wood | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 |
Derwentside | - | - | - | - | - | - | 84 | 84 |
Total | 2713 | 2719 | 2719 | 2708 | 2731 | 2507 | 2546 | 2192 |
The information sought on the distance individuals are moved across the UK from their place of residence in the community to an immigration removal centre is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many detainees died while detained at each immigration removal centre annually from 2015 to 2022.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
The first Community Engagement Pilot, Action Access, provided women who would otherwise be detained with a programme of support in the community. This pilot concluded on 31 March 2021. The independent evaluation of Action Access was published on 24 January 2022.
The second pilot, the Refugee and Migrant Advisory Service, supported both men and women in the community and remained in operation for two years until June 2022. The independent evaluation of the Refugee and Migrant Advisory Service is expected early in the new year. We will use the UNHCR evaluations of these pilots to inform our future approach to case-management focused alternatives to detention.
Since 2018, information on deaths in immigration detention has been included in published immigration statistics on an annual basis. Data on the number of deaths of people detained under immigration powers in each year from 2017, are published in section 8 ‘detention and returns’, table Det_05b and b of the detention summary tables, found at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1098047/detention-summary-jun-2022-tables.ods
Critical incidents in the immigration removal estate are managed, where appropriate, through a command structure. The published guidance Detention Services Order 05/2015 ‘Reporting and Communicating Incidents in the Immigration Removal Estate’ defines the category of incidents (red, amber, green) and provides instruction and guidance for staff on reporting and communicating incidents. Red (critical) incidents relate to the management of an event outside of usual centre business that has, or potentially will have a serious impact on the operation of a facility or the safety and security of staff, detained people or the wider public.
The table below sets out the operational capacity for each immigration removal centre (if all rooms and beds are in use) from 2015 to date.
IRC | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
Brook House | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 448 | 450 |
Colnbrook | 396 | 391 | 391 | 339 | 339 | 330 | 330 | 330 |
Dungavel House | 249 | 249 | 249 | 249 | 249 | 125 | 125 | 121 |
Harmondsworth | 665 | 676 | 676 | 702 | 726 | 635 | 635 | 635 |
Morton Hall | 392 | 392 | 392 | 392 | 391 | 391 | 352 | - |
Tinsley House | 153 | 153 | 153 | 168 | 168 | 168 | 162 | 162 |
Yarl’s Wood | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 |
Derwentside | - | - | - | - | - | - | 84 | 84 |
Total | 2713 | 2719 | 2719 | 2708 | 2731 | 2507 | 2546 | 2192 |
The information sought on the distance individuals are moved across the UK from their place of residence in the community to an immigration removal centre is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of prison places.
Answered by Damian Hinds
We have delivered over 3,100 additional prison places through a combination of refurbishments, temporary accommodation, repurposing the Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre and the new prison HMP Five Wells which opened earlier this year. The new prison HMP Fosse Way is due to open in 2023 and early works are already underway at the new prison next to HMP Full Sutton. Two major refurbishments are underway at HMP Birmingham and HMP Liverpool and a new houseblock at HMP Stocken is under construction.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress his Department has made in creating new prison places.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
We have already delivered over 3,100 additional prison places through a combination of refurbishments, installing temporary accommodation, repurposing the Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre back into a prison and the opening of HMP Five Wells earlier this year.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what evidence they used in the decision to open a new immigration detention centre in Country Durham.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The immigration removal estate is kept under ongoing review to ensure that the Home Office has sufficient resilience, geographical footprint and capacity for the men and women it proves necessary to detain for the purposes of removal, while providing value for money.
As part of our plans to manage the closure and return of the Morton Hall immigration removal centre (IRC) to Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, the Home Office considered a number of options to maintain necessary capacity in the estate, including the opening of a new IRC.
Given the timescales and value for money considerations, acquiring the vacant Hassockfield site to open as an IRC for women was considered the most cost-effective option for maintaining immigration detention capacity.
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 criteria her Department used to select Hassockfield as the site for a new immigration removal centre; and which other sites were considered for that planned centre.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
The immigration removal estate is kept under ongoing review to ensure that the Home Office has sufficient resilience, geographical footprint and capacity for the men and women it proves necessary to detain for the purposes of removal, while providing value for money.
As part of its plans to manage the closure and return of the Morton Hall immigration removal centre to Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, the Home Office considered a number of sites for a new immigration removal centre (IRC). Specifically, sites such as the former Campsfield IRC were considered and the Home Office also engaged in discussions with the Ministry of Justice on the availability of surplus sites.
Given the timescales and value for money considerations, acquiring the vacant Hassockfield site to open as an IRC for women was considered the most cost-effective option for maintaining immigration detention capacity.
An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) will be completed for opening of Hassockfield IRC in line with Public Sector Equality Duties. To ensure that decisions about the development of the site have due regard to eliminating discrimination and inequality, the EIA for Hassockfield will remain ongoing as plans progress to completion. The Home Office will publish the completed EIA in due course.