HC Deb 01 May 2001 vol 367 cc618-9W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the detention centres at Thurleigh, Harmondsworth, Aldington and Dungavel will begin to receive detainees. [159426]

Mrs. Roche

[holding answer 27 April 2001]: The immigration detention centres referred to will according to the current programme receive their first detainees as follows:

Detention centre
Yarl's Wood Detention Centre (Bedford) (formerly known as Thurleigh Detention Centre) August 2001
Harmondsworth Detention Centre (Heathrow) July 2001
Dungavel Detention Centre (Scotland) September 2001
Aldington Detention Centre (Kent) No date available

A date for the opening of the detention centre at Aldington cannot be given due to delays in the planning process.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the planned initial capacity and the planned full operating capacity is of(a) Thurleigh Detention Centre, (b) Harmondsworth Detention Centre, (c) Aldington Detention Centre and (d) Dungavel Detention Centre. [159425]

Mrs. Roche

[holding answer 27 April 2001]: The planned full operating capacity of the immigration detention centres referred to will be as follows:

Detention centre Places
Yarl's Wood Detention Centre (Bedford) (formerly known as Thurleigh Detention Centre) 900
Harmondsworth Detention Centre (Heathrow) 550
Dungavel Detention Centre (Scotland) 150
Aldington Detention Centre (Kent) 300

In each case there is no planned initial capacity and full operating capacity will be reached within three to four months of the centres opening, as agreed in the contract between the Immigration Service and operating contractors.