To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the report of the Independent Monitoring Board on the short-term holding facilities at Heathrow, in particular concerning the holding of families and the length of detention in unsuitable conditions. [HL3044]

Both I and the chief executive of the UK Border Agency have welcomed the annual report of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for the non-residential short-term holding facilities at Heathrow Airport.

We have noted the fact that the board has recognised significant improvement in the way in which immigration detainees are treated at the airport over the past 12 months. At the same time, we have noted the concerns about length of detention and the detention of families.

The chair of the board has been advised that detention services will provide a full reply in May.