To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has received from Serco for changes in the detention regime for women at Yarl’s Wood in relation to (a) locked room detention, (b) access to mobile telephones and (c) access to satellite television news. (138003)

[holding answer 18 May 2007]: The contractor operating Yarl’s Wood, Serco has not made any proposals, nor do they seek to make proposals to introduce changes in the detention regime for women at Yarl’s Wood. The regime will continue as previously with no detainees being locked up at night. They will continue to have access to mobile telephones and access to satellite television news.

The re-tender of the contract required all bidders to meet a demanding operational specification which seeks to improve rather than reduce the service for detainees at Yarl’s Wood.