§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the Independent Monitor of Accommodation Centres will be able to consider 969W whether the location of a centre prevents a need of its residents from being met only once it has been built; [85015]
(2)if it is the responsibility of the Independent Monitor of Accommodation Centres to monitor the operation of the whole of Part 2 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002; [85016]
(3)if the views of the Independent Monitor of Accommodation Centres will be taken into account by the Secretary of State in his evaluation of sites for further accommodation centres; [85017]
(4).if he will take into account views expressed by the Independent Monitor of Accommodation Centres as to whether a place as a location for the provision of premises to accommodate asylum seekers and their dependants prevents a need of its residents from being met. [85014]
§ Beverley HughesWhether the location of an accommodation centre prevents a need of its residents from being met is a matter that can only be considered and assessed by the monitor once the accommodation centre is up and running. The monitor will not be involved in the selection of sites and there is no requirement for the Secretary of State to consult the monitor prior to establishing an accommodation centre. Decisions on the location of accommodation centres will be taken by the Secretary of State, subject to the planning process.
Part 2 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 makes provisions regarding accommodation centres. Under section 34, the monitor is required to monitor the operation of Part 2 of the Act, and in particular, to consider:
(i) the quality and effectiveness of accommodation and other facilities provided in accommodation centres;(ii) the nature and enforcement of conditions of residence;(iii) the treatment of residents; and(iv) whether, in the case of any accommodation centre, its location prevents a need of its residents from being metThe monitor must report at least annually to the Secretary of State after the centres are up and running and the Secretary of State must lay a copy of the annual report he receives before Parliament as soon as is reasonably practicable.
If the monitor were to produce a critical report and identify a need of the residents of an accommodation centre which the location of the centre was preventing from being met, this would be one factor in the overall evaluation of the trial. If the monitor raised concerns with the Secretary of State, either in a formal report or before making his formal report, we would be able to consider whether those concerns required changes to be made