To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department

(1) whether she plans to change the terms of the contract for HM Prison Harmondsworth in light of the HM Inspectorate of Prisons' Report;

(2) what plans she has to scrutinise the performance of Geo Group UK Ltd following the HM Inspectorate of Prisons' Report.

holding answer 3 February 2014

All immigration removal centres operated by the private sector, including Harmondsworth, have their contracts managed by a central commercial team. The Home Office has staff based in each immigration removal centre to monitor contract delivery and compliance.

Meetings take place with the contractor, at an operational level on a weekly basis and, on a commercial level on a quarterly basis.

The performance by GEO the contractor running Harmondsworth has been below the high standard expected and in response to the inspection report a Service Improvement Plan is being drawn up addressing each recommendation made and outlining what action will be taken.

Under the protocol with Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons this will be undertaken within two months of the report's publication. Thereafter, the Home Office has 18 months to effect the improvements.

However, the Home Office has already engaged with the contractor and put in place a range of actions to address the areas of immediate concern.