Parliamentary activity

Answering body: Home Office

On 12 February 2025, the Government announced the establishment of a non-statutory Inquiry, to investigate and report on the decisions, actions and circumstances which led to the conditions encountered by those detained at the Manston Short-Term Holding Facility between 1 June 2022 and 22 November 2022.

A copy of the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry was placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Since then, at the request of the Senior Coroner for Kent and Medway HM Senior Coroner, Patricia Harding, and after consulting the Chair of the Inquiry, Sophie Cartwright KC, the Home Secretary has agreed to expand the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry to expressly include addressing how, and in what circumstances Hussein Haseeb Ahmed came by his death on 19 November 2022.

In order to comply with Section 6(3) of the Inquiries Act 2005, I will place a copy of the amended Terms of Reference in the Libraries of both Houses.

Answering body: Home Office

In fulfilment of the commitments made by the former Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Member for Fareham and Waterlooville, I am today announcing the establishment of an Article 3 ECHR non-statutory Independent Inquiry to investigate the conditions encountered by those detained at Manston Short-Term Holding Facility between June and November 2022.

The Inquiry will investigate the decisions, actions and circumstances which led to those conditions, and will reach conclusions on the treatment of those detained. The Inquiry may make recommendations regarding the conditions and should investigate whether there are lessons to be learned regarding the Home Office’s handling of the incident.

The formal start date of the Inquiry will be 17 March 2025 and I will place a copy of the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry in the Libraries of both Houses.

The Inquiry will be chaired by Sophie Cartwright KC, who has experience in inquests and inquiries. Arrangements for the Inquiry will be a matter for her, but as the sponsoring department, the Home Office will provide support and ensure the Inquiry has the resources needed to fulfil its Terms of Reference.

The Government will make no comment on issues which are now in the purview of the Inquiry until it has concluded, but we will encourage all current and former public officials with evidence to provide to the Inquiry to cooperate with its requests for assistance.