§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that immigration detainees charged with no offences are not held with convicted prisoners.
§ Baroness BlatchThe majority of immigration detainees are held in immigration detention centres. Where detainees have to be held in prisons, they are usually held with unconvicted prisoners and are accorded the same privileges. From early next year, it is intended that immigration detainees should be concentrated in only five Prison Service establishments. This will enable Prison Service staff to develop expertise in dealing with them, improve the Immigration Service's management of detainees' cases and facilitate access by legal representatives.