To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in accordance with Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001, incoming immigration detainees are asked at their medical examination whether they have previously suffered torture. [HL5896]

Persons detained in the UK Border Agency detention estate are seen by a nurse and a medical practitioner within 24 hours of arrival. Under Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001, the medical practitioner is required to report to the onsite UKBA manager any detained person who he is concerned may have been the victim of torture. We expect clinicians to exercise their professional judgment on how they elicit such information, but Rule 35 does not explicitly require them to ask every detainee.

Systems are in place to ensure that any such reports are promptly brought to the attention of the caseworker to allow for a review of the detention.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidelines exist for the movement at short notice of immigration detainees between detention centres; and under what circumstances such movement may occur. [HL5899]

The Detainee Escorting and Population Management Unit (DEPMU) is responsible for bed space management within the UK Border Agency's detention estate. The unit seeks to minimise movements within the estate in the interests of providing a settled regime and the efficient use of escorting resources.

Guidance is available to staff on how to prioritise movements, where they have to take place, and is aimed at supporting our core operational business of enforcing removals and ensuring we make best use of the bed space.

Movement of detainees around the estate is required for operational reasons, most often to:

position detainees close to airports prior to removal;

position detainees for court appearances;

position detainees for hospital appointments;

position detainees for embassy/documentation interviews;

facilitate the movement of detainees to more secure locations for security/behavioural reasons; and

ensure bed space is fully utilised.