§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what preparations he is currently making for an extension of detention facilities for use by the immigration service at Harmondsworth; whether he intends to make any improvements in the conditions of such facilities within the Heathrow terminals; and what contingency plans he has made for the effect on the detention facilities available for the immigration service of industrial action by officers in the prison service.
§ Mr. WaddingtonWe are reviewing arrangements for persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971 including the possible provision of additional detention accommodation at Harmondsworth and the improvement of the facilities at Heathrow in the light of the Government's response to the sixth report from the Home Affairs Committee (Session 1984–85). A variety of contingency plans have been made in case access to prisons was restricted or prison places became unavailable as the result of industrial action by officers of the prison service. These could be applied to detainees under the Immigration Act as to other prisoners.