§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what payments have been made under the terms of the contract to the contractor for Yarl's Wood since the facility was forced to close owing to fire damage; and if he will make a statement. [107293]
§ Beverley HughesThere has been no additional expenditure to date on either the buildings or security matters at Yarl's Wood since its closure on 31 March 2002. We have committed funds of about £250,000 for the design of sprinklers, associated works and the design of a new control room. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has agreed that the remaining part of the site should re-open later in the year. We expect that there will be a slow and gradual build up of the population, beginning with a small number initially.