§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people who were in detention in Yarl's Wood at the time of the recent fire there have since been deported; how many have been or are still detained in prison elsewhere without charge; what are the reasons in each of these categories; and what has been the Government's response to representations on these matters by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. [HL3525]
§ Lord RookerThe immigration and asylum cases of those held at Yarl's Wood removal centre have continued to be processed in the normal way. If the conclusion is reached in such cases that the persons concerned have no basis of stay in this country, they will be removed. This point will already have been reached in some of the cases and the individuals concerned will have been removed from the United Kingdom. This will continue to be the case.
Detainees who are assessed to pose a control and security risk will be transferred from immigration removal centres to prison accommodation in line with established policy. This will include detainees held at Yarl's Wood at the time of the incident and individuals held at other removal centres.
Exact figures for the number of former Yarl's Wood detainees removed from the United Kingdom or held in prison accommodation could be obtained only by examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
UNHCR met with the Home Secretary on 7 March and raised a number of issues regarding detention including Yarl's Wood and the points raised will be considered.