Committee to hold evidence session on impact of Covid-19 on immigration detention
7 May 2020
The Home Affairs Committee will take evidence on the impact of Covid-19 on immigration detention and institutional accommodation on Thursday 7 May, in a session featuring Home Office contracted providers of asylum accommodation and immigration removal centres : Mears Group; Clearsprings; Serco and Mitie, and human rights barristers.
Purpose of the session
The session will examine the management of Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) and asylum accommodation during the Covid-19 pandemic. It will investigate what measures have been put in place to ensure the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers, detainees and staff during the current health crisis, in particular, adherence to social distancing and cleaning guidelines. It will also examine what support and guidance has been issued by the Government to ensure the safety of those in institutional accommodation during the on-going health emergency.
Following recent legal challenges to the Government's policy and actions on immigration detention during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Committee will also examine the legal basis for detention and whether it has been affected by the pandemic.
Witnesses
At 9.30am
- Sarah Burnett, Business Operations Director, Justice and Immigration, Serco
- Colin Dobell, Managing Director, Mitie Care & Custody
- Steve Lakey, Managing Director, Clearsprings Ready Homes
- John Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Mears Group
At 10.30am
- Tim Buley QC, Landmark Chambers
- Rory Dunlop QC, 39 Essex Chambers
Further information
Image: Parliamentary copyright