HC Deb 16 December 1997 vol 303 cc87-8W
Dr. Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) where the legal responsibility for unaccompanied minors detained in immigration detention centres rests; [20655]

(2) whether the protection and care of unaccompanied minors in Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre is the responsibility of the Oxfordshire Child Protection Committee. [20657]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

It is our policy not to detain unaccompanied minors save only in very exceptional circumstances. Normal procedure is to grant temporary admission wherever possible, either into the care of a close relative or friend, or into the care of social services. In the few instances where detention is considered essential, accommodation appropriate to the age of the detainee is provided and a member of staff is appointed to act as a chaperon as necessary.

Legal responsibility for unaccompanied minors detained in immigration detention centres rests with the Home Office. Any assistance offered by the Oxfordshire Child Protection Committee would always be given consideration.

Dr. Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the arrangements to secure the accountability of, and to monitor the actions of, private security personnel working in immigration detention centres, with particular reference to the custody and care of unaccompanied minors. [20659]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The performance of private sector security companies employed under contract to manage and operate immigration detention centres is monitored by on-site Immigration Service staff and, where appropriate, by specialist Home Office personnel. In addition, Immigration Service staff based at Immigration Service Headquarters are involved in the quality assurance process and hold regular review meetings with senior management from Group 4 Total Security Ltd., and Wackenhut United Kingdom Ltd., in order to ensure that the highest standards are maintained and that all contractual obligations are met.

It is not normal policy or practice to detain unaccompanied minors and these are held only in the most exceptional of circumstances. All private sector companies involved in immigration detention are aware of the special significance of their duty of care in the case of unaccompanied minors.

Dr. Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what separate accommodation is provided for unaccompanied minors detained in immigration detention centres. [20656]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Our normal policy is not to detain unaccompanied minors, and no accommodation is specifically set aside for their use in immigration detention centres. When it is necessary to detain an unaccompanied minor, a single room is provided in a discrete part of the detention centre used for those in need of close care or support.

Dr. Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unaccompanied minors have been detained in Campsfield House, Oxfordshire, in each month of 1997(a) under Immigration Act powers and (b) under other legislation. [20658]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Many of those who are liable to detention under powers conferred by the Immigration Act 1971, and who may at some stage have sought asylum in the United Kingdom, are not in possession of documents satisfactorily establishing either their identity or nationality. Some hold identity documents but claim to be younger than the ages shown therein. It is perhaps inevitable in these circumstances that there will be some cases where the precise age of the individual is in dispute.

During 1997, 12 persons claimed to be under 18 years of age while detained at Campsfield House. Information on when those persons first entered detention, under Immigration Act powers, at Campsfield House is given in the table. None of those persons were detained at Campsfield House as at 10 December 1997.

Age assessment remains an inexact science and definitive assessments cannot be made. The Immigration Service liaises closely with the Refugee Council's Panel of Advisers for Refugee Children. All cases where there is a dispute as to the age of an applicant are referred to the Panel.

While there is no minimum age below which a person may not be detained under powers conferred by the Immigration Act, under current guidelines detention is not usually considered appropriate for unaccompanied children or for persons under the age of 18. It is normal practice to grant temporary admission to those who are clearly unaccompanied minors, usually into the care of social services.

Month first detained at Campsfield House of persons alleged to have been aged under 18 years when detained there during 19971
Month Number of persons
January 2
March 2
May 4
June 2
July 2
October 2
Total 12
1 Those persons were detained solely under Immigration Act 1971 powers.
2 Signifies one or two persons. Numbers are not given because individuals, whose records are confidential, could then be identified.