Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre

Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how money which has been sent to detainees at Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre is (a) secured and (b) accounted for; and how many complaints were made about missing amounts in each of the last three years.

Mr. Byrne
Detainees at Yarl’s Wood hold their own money in possession. The centre has facilities to store monies and valuables on their behalf should they require it. There have been no complaints recorded relating to missing money.

Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the treatment of detainees at Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre in terms of (a) access to medical records, (b) curtailment of effective visiting time, (c) quality of food and service of food, (d) choice in the provision of sanitary products, (e) treatment of visitors, (f) availability of telephone and fax services, (g) access to advice and information and (h) availability of stationery and postage stamps; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Byrne
The provision of services to detainees at Yarl’s Wood Removal Centre is subject to self audit by Serco which operates the centre under contract to the Border and Immigration Agency. The self audit process is in turn audited by Border and Immigration Agency staff and is subject to routine monitoring and scrutiny by the Border and Immigration Agency managers in the site monitoring team. There is also an Independent Monitoring Board that has unrestricted access to the centre 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and also has direct access to the Secretary of State’s office. The establishment is also subject to regular inspection by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons. Whenever issues arise concerning the provision of services including those listed in the question, both the on site Border and Immigration Agency staff and the contractor are committed to resolving concerns and improving systems accordingly. Since 26 April 2007 Serco has only received one complaint, this was in relation to the availability of telephone and fax services, and this was addressed immediately.