To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children detained at (a) Dungavel and (b) Yarl's Wood have been transferred to other immigration detention centres in each of the last six months. (321958)

[holding answer 12 March 2010]: Families with children can be detained at Dungavel House, Tinsley House and Yarl's Wood. Tinsley House currently accommodates family groups for 24 hours and Dungavel House for approximately 72 hours. Where detention is likely to extend beyond this timeframe, families are transferred to Yarl's Wood, which has the facilities to support longer periods of detention.

It is not possible to provide the information requested without examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

National Statistics on children detained solely under Immigration Act powers on a snapshot basis are published quarterly. The information is published in Tables 9-14 of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom bulletins which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) children and (b) families detained at immigration detention centres spent the entire period of their detention at a single location in the latest period for which figures are available. (321959)

[holding answer 12 March 2010]: For the period October 2009 to December 2009, 330 children left immigration removal centres. From our records, 230 had spent the entire period of their detention at a single location. These figures are based on management information. They have not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols, are rounded to the nearest 5, subject to change and should be treated as provisional.

Of the balance, some will have spent the entire period of detention at a single location but will have moved with their families for reasons such as medical appointments outside the centre, or a failed removal. We could only establish the number by examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

The number of families held in immigration removal centres that spent the entire period of their detention at a single location can be determined only by examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the health and emotional well-being of children of transfers between immigration removal centres. (321960)

[holding answer 12 March 2010]: The UK Border Agency takes health and emotional well-being of those in its care very seriously; this is particularly true of children who are regrettably detained—with their parents—pending their removal after they refuse to leave the UK voluntarily. We introduced a new duty in November 2009 contained in the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009, which requires the Agency to protect and promote the welfare of children. The Office of the Children's Champion, which includes professional advisers, is responsible for challenging the Agency to ensure it meets its obligations, and they provide constant advice and support to those responsible for detention and escorting matters.

Prior to detention, the Agency conducts a formal assessment of each child to identify any particular medical, safeguarding or welfare needs in order to make the necessary arrangements to support them while in detention.

Children can only be held in three immigration removal centres. Tinsley House currently holds families for 24 hours and Dungavel House for up to three days. Those families who will be held for longer periods are taken to Yarl's Wood, as are those families in Scotland whose flights are departing from London. We do not normally move families between centres for any other reason.

Prior to the transfer to Yarl's Wood, a number of assessments are made to take specific account of the safeguarding and welfare of the children making the journey. These include:

The size of vehicle required to accommodate the whole family together;

The length of the journey to ensure adequate comfort breaks, suitable child activity packs, dietary requirements and refreshments;

Appropriate clothing for the weather;

Feeding and changing facilities for babies and any requirement for child safety chairs and booster seats.

The discharging centre provides Yarl's Wood with all health records, welfare assessments and care plans, documenting any special needs or support in place for the family to ensure continuity of care.

On arrival at the receiving centre the family and children are individually re-assessed by a nurse within two hours and an appointment made for them to see a GP the following day. In line with the centre's safeguarding arrangements, the children continue to have their welfare monitored and assessed on a regular basis by the multi-disciplinary team of healthcare, educational, operational and other staff, together with the resident senior social worker.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether members of any families being detained at immigration removal centres have been detained at different locations in each of the last 12 months. (322377)

[holding answer 15 March 2010]: Local management information indicates that, at 11 March 2010, 18 family members (from six families) presently detained at an immigration removal centre had been detained under Immigration Act powers at a different location within the past 12 months.

The figures provided do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on management information. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and should be treated as provisional.

National Statistics on children detained solely under Immigration Act powers on a snapshot basis are published quarterly. The information is published in the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom bulletins which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the maximum number of children is which may be detained at each immigration removal centre; and how many children were detained at each centre in the last six months. (322378)

[holding answer 15 March 2010]: There are 66 rooms providing a total of 152 beds where families with children may be accommodated in the immigration detention estate. They are not all occupied at any one time since their use is dependent on the make-up and size of the family.

Children may be detained as part of a family group in three immigration removal centres. Tinsley House has four family rooms of six and seven beds. Dungavel House has two three-bedded family rooms and Yarl’s Wood has 60 two-bedded family rooms. The rooms are inter-linked to allow larger family groups to be accommodated together.

The number of children who entered detention solely under Immigration Act powers for the last six months of 2009 is published in table 9 of the Control of Immigration Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom Third Quarter and Table 9.1 of the Control of Immigration Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom Fourth Quarter which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office’s Research, Development and Statistics website at:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html