Parliamentary activity

Answering body: Home Office

30 out of the 33 recommendations made by the Brook House Inquiry have been accepted or partially accepted. Following full consideration three recommendations (recommendations 7, 19 and 30) have been rejected.

Positive progress continues to be made against the accepted recommendations, with 12 recommendations (recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 14, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26) met and closed as of October 2024, 5 (recommendations 5, 11, 27, 28 and 29) due for closure by the end of January 2025, and the remaining 13 (recommendations 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 31, 32 and 33) on track for closure by summer 2025.

Answering body: Home Office

The previous government published a command paper on 19 March 2024 in response to the Brook House Inquiry report. Positive progress continues to be made in addressing the Inquiry’s findings.

A cross departmental working group chaired by the SCS Deputy Director for Detention Services has been meeting since September 2023. The working group continues to meet monthly to consider and monitor delivery of the Inquiry’s recommendations, providing oversight and overarching governance to monitor Inquiry recommendations. Home Office Ministers are fully sighted on progress.

30 out of the 33 recommendations made have been accepted or partially accepted, with 12 recommendations met and closed as of October 2024. The remaining recommendations remain on track for closure by summer 2025.

Answering body: Home Office

30 out of the 33 recommendations made in the Brook House Inquiry report have been accepted or partially accepted, with 12 recommendations met and closed as of October 2024. The remaining recommendations remain on track for closure by summer 2025.

Answering body: Home Office

The abuse that took place at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) in 2017 was unacceptable.

Whilst there are no plans to publish a response to each recommendation raised by the inquiry, positive progress continues to be made against the 30 accepted recommendations. The Government will continue to reflect and act on Inquiry recommendations.

Specifically on recommendations 14-17, on the use of force in IRCs, the Home Office communicated to all IRC and contracted service provider staff in December 2023 and May 2024, that techniques involving handcuffing behind backs whilst seated is not permitted. A new Detention Services Order in relation to use of force is being developed specifically for the immigration detention estate and will be published in Spring 2025.

Answering body: Home Office

The scope of the Adults at Risk review includes the Immigration (Guidance on Detention of Vulnerable Persons) Regulations 2024.

The review forms part of the response to one of the recommendations of the Brook House Inquiry (Recommendation 9: Review of the operation of Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001). The review will not cover all areas of the Brook House Inquiry and will not reassess the findings and recommendations made.

Answering body: Home Office

The Adults at Risk review forms part of the response to one of the recommendations of the Brook House Inquiry (Recommendation 9: Review of the operation of Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001). However, it will not cover all areas of the Brook House Inquiry and will not reassess the recommendations made.

Answering body: Home Office

The abuse that took place at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) in 2017 was unacceptable.

The previous government published its response to the public inquiry into Brook House IRC on 19 March 2024, summarising the progress made since 2017 and addressing each of the ten key areas of concern raised in the report.

Positive progress continues to be made in addressing the Inquiry findings. A cross departmental working group has been meeting since September 2023. The working group continues to meet monthly to consider and monitor delivery of the Inquiry’s recommendations, providing oversight and overarching governance to monitor Inquiry recommendations.

Answering body: Home Office

The abuse that took place at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) in 2017 was unacceptable.

The previous government published its response to the public inquiry into Brook House IRC on 19 March 2024, summarising the progress made since 2017 and addressing each of the ten key areas of concern raised in the report.

The new government is carefully considering the Inquiry’s recommendations and will set out its approach in due course.

Answering body: Home Office

The Home Office is proceeding with plans to open two refurbished IRCs on the sites of the former Campsfield House IRC at Kidlington in Oxfordshire, and the former Haslar IRC in Gosport, Hampshire. Both sites will be a mixture of refurbished and new-build accommodation, built to the latest standards, and, once open, will provide safe, secure and fit for purpose accommodation.

Like other IRCs, both IRCs will house a mixture of time-served Foreign National Offenders and immigration offenders awaiting removal from the UK, in line with the Government’s priority to increase returns. The sites will be secure facilities, with a range of on-site services (including recreation, faith and medical services) available.

We are committed to ensuring the proper protection and treatment of vulnerable people in detention and in developing plans for the new sites, we will be taking concerns raised by inspection and monitoring bodies into account including the key findings made by the Brook House Inquiry. The Home Office has strengthened its capacity to provide assurance and oversight of services across the detention estate. This includes action to refresh and reinforce whistleblowing arrangements; improving information flows; and analysis of complaints, incidents, and use of force.

Answering body: Home Office

The Home Office is proceeding with plans to open two refurbished IRCs on the sites of the former Campsfield House IRC at Kidlington in Oxfordshire, and the former Haslar IRC in Gosport, Hampshire. Both sites will be a mixture of refurbished and new-build accommodation, built to the latest standards, and, once open, will provide safe, secure and fit for purpose accommodation.

Like other IRCs, both IRCs will house a mixture of time-served Foreign National Offenders and immigration offenders awaiting removal from the UK, in line with the Government’s priority to increase returns. The sites will be secure facilities, with a range of on-site services (including recreation, faith and medical services) available.

We are committed to ensuring the proper protection and treatment of vulnerable people in detention and in developing plans for the new sites, we will be taking concerns raised by inspection and monitoring bodies into account including the key findings made by the Brook House Inquiry. The Home Office has strengthened its capacity to provide assurance and oversight of services across the detention estate. This includes action to refresh and reinforce whistleblowing arrangements; improving information flows; and analysis of complaints, incidents, and use of force.

Answering body: Home Office

The Home Office is proceeding with plans to open two refurbished IRCs on the sites of the former Campsfield House IRC at Kidlington in Oxfordshire, and the former Haslar IRC in Gosport, Hampshire. Both sites will be a mixture of refurbished and new-build accommodation, built to the latest standards, and, once open, will provide safe, secure and fit for purpose accommodation.

Like other IRCs, both IRCs will house a mixture of time-served Foreign National Offenders and immigration offenders awaiting removal from the UK, in line with the Government’s priority to increase returns. The sites will be secure facilities, with a range of on-site services (including recreation, faith and medical services) available.

We are committed to ensuring the proper protection and treatment of vulnerable people in detention and in developing plans for the new sites, we will be taking concerns raised by inspection and monitoring bodies into account including the key findings made by the Brook House Inquiry. The Home Office has strengthened its capacity to provide assurance and oversight of services across the detention estate. This includes action to refresh and reinforce whistleblowing arrangements; improving information flows; and analysis of complaints, incidents, and use of force.

Answering body: Home Office

The abuse that took place at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) in 2017 was unacceptable and this government is committed to ensuring that it will never happen again.

The previous government published its response to the Brook House Inquiry on 19 March 2024 and can be found here: Government response to the Brook House Inquiry report - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

A cross governmental working group continues to meet monthly to monitor progress against accepted recommendations and drive forward implementation.

Answering body: Home Office

The Government is today publishing its response to the Brook House Inquiry. The Government is grateful to the Chair of the Brook House Inquiry (BHI), Kate Eves, for her review and welcomes this important contribution to ensuring the safety and welfare of those in detention. The response has been laid before Parliament as a Command Paper (CP 1041) and copies are available in the Vote Office and on gov.uk.

This inquiry, in which the Home Office was a core participant, was in response to an investigative current affairs documentary broadcast in September 2017, which included covert footage of abuse of detained people at Brook House immigration removal centre (IRC) by a small number of contracted service provider staff. The inquiry was established on 5 November 2019 and published its report on 19 September 2023. The inquiry formally closed on 31 January 2024.

The aim of the inquiry was to establish the facts of what took place and ensure that lessons were learnt to prevent those shocking events happening again. The Government expects the highest standards from contracted service providers.

The Government wishes to highlight the significant improvements that have been made since 2017 to uphold the welfare and dignity of those detained across the estate including strengthening safeguards, promoting a culture of transparency and improving the oversight of contractors’ performance. The Government is confident the measures taken so far in responding to the BHI have gone a long way to addressing many of the key concerns raised, and will continue to reflect on the findings from the Inquiry ensuring that they are fully embedded into the development and implementation of new and emerging policy initiatives.

Answering body: Home Office

My rt hon Friend the Minister of State for Countering Illegal Migration (Michael Tomlinson) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

The Government is today publishing its response to the Brook House Inquiry. The Government is grateful to the Chair of the Brook House Inquiry (BHI), Kate Eves, for her review and welcomes this important contribution to ensuring the safety and welfare of those in detention. The response has been laid before Parliament as a Command Paper (CP 1041) and copies are available in the Vote Office and on gov.uk.

This inquiry, in which the Home Office was a core participant, was in response to an investigative current affairs documentary broadcast in September 2017, which included covert footage of abuse of detained people at Brook House immigration removal centre (IRC) by a small number of contracted service provider staff. The inquiry was established on 5 November 2019 and published its report on 19 September 2023. The inquiry formally closed on 31 January 2024.

The aim of the inquiry was to establish the facts of what took place and ensure that lessons were learnt to prevent those shocking events happening again. The Government expects the highest standards from contracted service providers.

The Government wishes to highlight the significant improvements that have been made since 2017 to uphold the welfare and dignity of those detained across the estate including strengthening safeguards, promoting a culture of transparency and improving the oversight of contractors’ performance. The Government is confident the measures taken so far in responding to the BHI have gone a long way to addressing many of the key concerns raised, and will continue to reflect on the findings from the Inquiry ensuring that they are fully embedded into the development and implementation of new and emerging policy initiatives.

Answering body: Home Office

The Government continues to reflect on the findings in the Brook House Inquiry report and progress is being made on recommendations. The Government response will be published in due course.

This work is being overseen by a Senior Civil Servant (SCS), the Director of Detention Services. A specialist cross government working group has also been established to manage delivery of recommendations, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Department of Health and Social Care.

The Home Office will continue to monitor the implementation of any changes resulting from the report’s recommendations.

Answering body: Home Office

The Government continues to reflect on the findings in the Brook House Inquiry report and progress is being made on recommendations. The Government response will be published in due course.

This work is being overseen by a Senior Civil Servant (SCS), the Director of Detention Services. A specialist cross government working group has also been established to manage delivery of recommendations, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Department of Health and Social Care.

The Home Office will continue to monitor the implementation of any changes resulting from the report’s recommendations.

Answering body: Home Office

The Government continues to reflect on the findings in the Brook House Inquiry report and progress is being made on recommendations. The Government response will be published in due course.

This work is being overseen by a Senior Civil Servant (SCS), the Director of Detention Services. A specialist cross government working group has also been established to manage delivery of recommendations, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Department of Health and Social Care.

The Home Office will continue to monitor the implementation of any changes resulting from the report’s recommendations.

Answering body: Home Office

The Government continues to reflect on the findings in the Brook House Inquiry report and progress is being made on recommendations. The Government response will be published in due course.

This work is being overseen by a Senior Civil Servant (SCS), the Director of Detention Services. A specialist cross government working group has also been established to manage delivery of recommendations, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Department of Health and Social Care.

The Home Office will continue to monitor the implementation of any changes resulting from the report’s recommendations.

Answering body: Home Office

The Government is carefully considering the findings of the Brook House Inquiry in its detailed report, including the recommendations and the Chair’s letter, in relation to the management of the immigration detention estate and the welfare of detained individuals.

Answering body: Home Office

The Government is carefully considering the findings of the Brook House Inquiry in its detailed report, including the recommendations in relation to the management of the immigration detention estate and the welfare of detained individuals.

There are currently no plans to publish a progress report.

Answering body: Home Office

Today the independent Inquiry into the mistreatment of individuals who were detained at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) between 1 April 2017 and 31 August 2017, as shown in the BBC Panorama programme “Under-Cover: Britain’s Immigration Secrets” has published its report.

The report can be found on the Brook House Inquiry website from noon today.

The Report sets out failings in both oversight and governance to protect the welfare of detained individuals within Brook House IRC during this period.

The Government takes the welfare and safety of those we detain very seriously and has made significant improvements to immigration detention since the dates covered by the Inquiry.

I would like to thank Kate Eves and the Inquiry Team for their work to establish the facts of what happened at Brook House IRC, to identify learning and to make recommendations that will help to prevent a recurrence of such events.

We will carefully consider the findings of this Inquiry in its detailed report, including the recommendations in relation to the management of the immigration detention estate and the welfare of detained individuals.

I have today laid the Inquiry’s report before the House, and it will also be published on www.gov.uk.

Answering body: Home Office

The Government will carefully consider the findings of the Brook House Inquiry in its detailed report, including the recommendations in relation to the management of the immigration detention estate and the welfare of detained individuals.

Answering body: Home Office

My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Suella Braverman) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

Today the independent Inquiry into the mistreatment of individuals who were detained at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) between 1 April 2017 and 31 August 2017, as shown in the BBC Panorama programme “Under-Cover: Britain’s Immigration Secrets” has published its report.

The report can be found on the Brook House Inquiry website from noon today.

The Report sets out failings in both oversight and governance to protect the welfare of detained individuals within Brook House IRC during this period.

The Government takes the welfare and safety of those we detain very seriously and has made significant improvements to immigration detention since the dates covered by the Inquiry.

I would like to thank Kate Eves and the Inquiry Team for their work to establish the facts of what happened at Brook House IRC, to identify learning and to make recommendations that will help to prevent a recurrence of such events.

We will carefully consider the findings of this Inquiry in its detailed report, including the recommendations in relation to the management of the immigration detention estate and the welfare of detained individuals.

I have today laid the Inquiry’s report before the House, and it will also be published on www.gov.uk.