§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will launch an investigation into conditions at the Dungavel Detention Centre for asylum seekers; how many asylum seeker detainees at the Dungavel centre are on hunger strike; if he will review provisions for visits and access arrangements to asylum1160W seekers detained in asylum centres; and if he will take steps to ensure freedom of information provisions apply to asylum seeker detention centres. [48838]
§ Angela EagleWe have no reason or intention to launch an investigation into conditions at Dungavel Removal Centre. We are confident that Premier Services Ltd., which manages and operates the centre, provides care of the highest order for all its detainees in line with the requirements of the Detention Centre Rules.
Reports that have recently been circulating suggesting that there has been a hunger strike by a number of detainees at Dungavel are completely unfounded.
On Tuesday 9 April 2002 a number of detainees announced their intention to stage what they termed a 'non-compliance' day. Detainees refused to get out of bed, take part in removal centre activities such as education or sport activities or eat in the centre's dining hall. They did, however, continue to buy food from the centre's shop.
Most detainees ate lunch and supper the next day and the centre has been operating normally since.
There are already in place a number of local befriending schemes at Dungavel and regular visits to detainees do take place. In addition, each removal centre has a Visiting Committee. The Visiting Committee is responsible for monitoring the state of the removal centre premises, the administration of the centre and the treatment of detainees. Dungavel has been visited by a range of representatives from national non-governmental organisations with a direct interest in asylum, immigration and detention.
The freedom of information provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 will, when implemented, apply to immigration removal centres.