§ Mr. SarwarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the hunger strike by asylum seekers at Dungavel detention centre; [50513]
(2) how many children are detained at his Department's Dungavel centre; how many of that number have special needs as a result of disability or health problems; and what level of education and healthcare is provided for these children; [50438]
(3) if he will make a statement on his assessment of the management of the Dungavel detention centre in Scotland; [50436]
(4) what medical care is available to asylum seekers detained at the Dungavel centre. [50437]
§ Angela EagleDungavel Removal Centre is managed and operated by Premier Services Ltd. All removal centres must provide for the safety and care of detainees in compliance with the Detention Centre Rules 2001. The Rules set out the rights and responsibilities of those held in removal centres and of those who operate such centres. The contract with Premier reflects the requirements of the Rules.
The number and profile of detainees, including the number of children, at an immigration removal centre changes from day-to-day. Internal management information records that on the morning of Monday 15 April 2002 there were 15 children at Dungavel Removal Centre and of these, two had special needs as a result of disability or health problems.
A programme of modular education is provided at Dungavel for all school age children.
1253WThere are excellent medical facilities at Dungavel in the dedicated healthcare unit. This unit includes two hospital beds. There is a full time doctor and five full time nurses. There is a 24-hour on call facility to both doctors and nurses. There is a weekly visit by a dentist and an optician visits the centre fortnightly. These medical facilities are available to all detainees including children.
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 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.