House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Yarl’s Wood: Serco

Monday 22 May 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

Minister met Serco executives on 4 May to discuss the incident at Yarl's Wood.
Eight men escaped from Yarl's Wood, with one still at large.
Government thanks Bedfordshire police for leading the national response.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Fuller Con North Bedfordshire

Immigration Policing & Resources Justice & Courts

Context

An incident occurred at Yarl's Wood, raising concerns about security and the response from Serco.

Question

What discussions she has had with representatives of Serco on improvements to security at the Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre. The incident at Yarl's Wood in my constituency highlights the need for serious discussion and action regarding security measures and responses.

Answer from Robert Jenrick

The Government take the protection of the public and security incidents at immigration detention centres extremely seriously. I met senior Serco executives on 4 May to discuss their response to the incident at Yarl's Wood in my hon. Friend's constituency. An independent investigation into the incident is now under way; we will consider its findings in detail.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specifics about what improvements were discussed or commitments made regarding security measures following the meeting with Serco executives.

How: Under Review

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Q2 Richard Fuller Con North Bedfordshire

Immigration Policing & Resources

Context

Following an incident at Yarl's Wood, questions remain about the ease of escape and interaction between Serco and police forces.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking the chief constable of Bedfordshire for working with other police forces? Of the eight men who escaped, only one remains at large. Serious questions remain regarding the ease of escape and interactions between Serco and the police. Will my right hon. Friend please look into these issues?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

I join my hon. Friend in thanking Bedfordshire police for leading the national response to the incident. Of the eight men who escaped, only one now remains at large; we are determined to find him as quickly as possible. Robust security measures exist in IRCs but they are being reviewed again following this incident. I met senior Serco executives to hold them accountable and ensure they take the matter seriously.