§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when planning permission was obtained for the proposed detention centre at Oakington; what conditions were attached to the permission by the planning authority; and which of those conditions his Department does not intend to accept. [101340]
§ Mrs. RochePlanning permission was obtained from South Cambridgeshire District Council on 10 November 1999. The Council proposed the following "conditions"
After three years, the use will be discontinued unless in the third year the Secretary of State notifies to the Local Planning Authority the need for a further year (and so on on a yearly basis) and shall take account of representations made by the Local Planning Authority when any such extensions are proposed;There shall not be accommodated at the Centre any persons known to have committed within the last five years any criminal offence which if committed in England and Wales would be an imprisonable offence;There shall not be accommodated at the Centre any persons known to have an infectious, notifiable disease;No detainee shall be allowed to leave the Centre other than under escort;The site of the Centre shall not be extended nor anything built thereon without further consultation under Circular 18/84; Crown land and Crown development;620WDetainees not deported will not be placed in South Cambridgeshire District;The number of detainees shall not materially exceed 400; andFor so long as the Centre is in use, the Secretary of State shall cause to be set up a Local Liaison Committee consisting of Home Office representation, a representative of the operators, the Local Planning Authority and the local communities. The Local Liaison Committee shall meet as often as is requisite but at least annually to discuss, avoid and resolve any local community problems arising out of the use of the site as an immigration reception centre.My officials will shortly be writing to South Cambridgeshire District Council to confirm Home Office acceptance of the planning issues and to indicate that we broadly agree with the other points.