asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the estimated cost of escorting immigration detainees to and from bail hearings in 2007-08; what financial penalties were imposed on the contractors for this service for unsatisfactory performance in 2005-06; and whether there has been an independent audit or evaluation of the performance of the contractors.[HL4468]

The Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) does not separately record the cost to escort detainees to bail hearings nor does it monitor performance specifically relating to escorts to bail hearings.

The escort contract contains performance measures by which contractors are measured. Failure to meet the required standards results in the allocation of performance measures resulting in a deduction from the contractors operating fee.

The escort contract is monitored daily by the BIA contract monitoring team. Specific areas of the current contract are being reviewed by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB). The IMB is a voluntary organisation of prison and immigration centre visitors who assist in assuring that prisoners and detainees are treated appropriately both in detention and under escort.

The contract for in-country and overseas escorting has been audited by the National Audit Office. The results have been published in the NAO report, Returning Failed Asylum Applicants, 19 July 2005.