Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Deferred
Give Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration access to commercial contracts for proper scrutiny.
Conclusion
The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration should be given access to commercial contracts so they can be properly scrutinised. The legislation underpinning the Inspector’s role should be amended if necessary to achieve this. (Recommendation, Paragraph 56) 97
Government response summary AI-generated
The government responded by outlining contractual obligations for providers to notify asylum seekers of accommodation moves with at least five days' notice, and the provision of induction booklets and Migrant Help access, rather than addressing the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration's access to commercial contracts.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
The Department does already allow the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) appropriate access to contract information to fulfil their statutory inspection duties effectively. The ICIBI is permitted supervised access to sensitive contract information. This approach balances the need for transparency in assessing efficiency and effectiveness with the protection of commercially sensitive data. We are working closely with the new ICIBI, John Tuckett, to ensure he has access to the information required to conduct inspections and assessments of efficiency and effectiveness of the Migration and Borders System. The UK Borders Act 2007, which underpins the ICIBI’s role, does not currently provide a clear framework for access to sensitive information, nor does it specify how such information should be used or redacted. To address this, the Department is working with the ICIBI to update protocols on ways of working between the ICIBI and the Department. We will consider formalising these arrangements in the future when Parliamentary time allows so that there is a statutory basis for the sharing and use of information.
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