Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord West of Spithead (Labour) on Thursday, 12 November 2009.

Immigration: Detention Centres

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether staff at immigration detention centres who are in contact with children are checked by the Criminal Records Bureau before they are employed; and, if not, what plans they have to undertake such checks.

Answer: All staff at immigration removal centres and escorts who have contact with children are checked by the Criminal Records Bureau before they are employed. In very exceptional circumstances, essential workers may be employed provisionally while the checks are completed. In these circumstances, individuals are accompanied by a fully cleared member of staff while undertaking their duties and do not have free access to the removal centre or lone access to individuals detained.

Secondary information