§ Alistair BurtTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued in relation to racist language and behaviour to staff at immigration and detention centres run by the Home Office and its agents; if he will publish them; and if he will make a statement. [143582]
§ Beverley HughesUnder Rule 3(2) of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 operators of removal centres are required to recognise the need for awareness of the particular anxieties to which detained persons may be subject and the sensitivity that this will require, especially when handling issues of cultural diversity.
The contract to operate Yarlswood Immigration Removal Centre, in common with other such contracts, requires the centre operator to have a race relations policy approved by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. In addition, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate issued an Operating Standard on Race Relations to all removal centre operators in December 2002. This Standard sets out the minimum requirements expected of all removal centre operators. Copies of the two documents will be placed in the House Library.
§ Alistair BurtTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate allegations of(a) racism and (b) misconduct among staff at the Yarlswood Detention Centre; and if he will make a statement. [143583]
§ Beverley HughesWe take these allegations very seriously indeed. It is obviously of the utmost importance that staff at immigration removal centres should carry out their duties professionally and sensitively. Our contractor at Yarlswood Immigration Removal Centre, Global Solutions Ltd. (GSL—formerly Group 4), has launched a full investigation into the allegations. The investigation will be conducted by a senior manager with no line management responsibility618W for Yarlswood. I have instructed the Director General of the IND to institute an independent investigation of the allegations.