§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements they have made to ensure that asylum seekers detained in prisons or detention centres have a change of clothes. [HL1802]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)Asylum seekers detained in prison establishments can wear their own clothes, arrange to have clothes brought to them or be issued with prison clothes. National prison standards require that the clothing worn by immigration detainees held in prison, whether their own or prison issue, are suitable, tidy and clean and are adequate for warmth and health. Guidance on the frequency of clothing changes is given in the operating standards manual.
In detention centres, Rule 12 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 (SI 2001/238) provides that all detainees may wear clothing of their own if it is suitable and clean and shall be provided with clothing adequate for warmth and health. Detainees can also be provided with suitable and adequate clothing on their release. Facilities are also provided for the laundering of items of clothing. These standards are restated in operating companies' contracts which require that, if any detainee is unable to wear or provide their own clothing, they will be provided with a reasonable choice of clothing which is clean, in good repair and well fitting. The clothing provided should observe cultural and religious requirements.