Mr. MalinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the cost(a) to date and (b) in the next year to the Bedfordshire police, arising from the Yarl's Wood fire. [68623]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 9 July 2002]: The Chief Constable of Bedfordshire has informed me that the cost of the operation to date is approximately £2.9 million and that it is not possible to estimate future costs. The criminal investigation into the circumstances of the incident, and the forensic search of the material removed from the site is continuing.