Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Judd (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 24 October 2006.

Immigration: Yarl’s Wood Removal Centre

Question: My Lords, does my noble friend accept that many of us are greatly cheered by the Government’s decision to keep the inspectorate independent, after the case so well argued by the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, and others? Does she not agree that the seriousness of the situation at Yarl’s Wood is underlined by the fact that when the chief inspector made a visit early last year she made 42 specific recommendations on what should be done? When the inspector returned early this year, virtually nothing had been done on the 42 recommendations. As I am sure my noble friend will agree, the inspector was particularly concerned with the plight of children—the number of children and the length of time they were there. She found it difficult to reconcile with our obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child as ratified by the United Kingdom in 1991. Are children in Yarl’s Wood regarded as children or not? If they are, why are the obligations under the convention not applied in spirit as well as letter at this institution? Does she not agree that it would be a good idea if periodically, perhaps every quarter, she was to publish a specific progress report on each of the 42 recommendations?

Answer: My Lords, of course I thank my noble friend for his congratulations. However, I remind him that we always intended the inspectorate to remain independent, though perhaps in a slightly different form. On the inspector’s recommendations, I do not think that my noble friend is right to say that nothing has been done. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons praised the establishment of a child protection policy group and made other complimentary remarks about the work that had been done. With regard to the action plan that has been agreed with the chief inspector, I reassure my noble friend that that matter is being pursued with a great deal of vigour.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 685 c1077-8
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Children Inspections Immigration HM Inspectorate of Prisons Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk