Written questions by Miller.

With reference to her oral statement on Border Security and Asylum of 22 July 2024, Official Report, column 384, what assessment her Department has made of the cost effectiveness of (a) Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre and (b) other immigration removal centres for tackling illegal migration.

Detention plays a key role in maintaining effective immigration controls and securing the UK’s borders, particularly in connection with the removal of people who have no right to remain in the UK but who refuse to leave voluntarily. The immigration removal estate is kept under review to ensure that the Home Office has sufficient resilience, geographical footprint and capacity for those men and women it is necessary to detain for the purposes of removal, while providing value for money. We are increasing detention spaces to support a higher pace of removals, including reopening Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC). This increase will ensure there is additional capacity to facilitate higher levels of enforcement and returns so that rules are properly respected. Development of Campsfield is being undertaken in two phases. A competition for the Phase 1 constructor was conducted between suppliers, using the Strategic Alliance framework, on a “Most Economically Advantageous Tender” basis, which considers both quality and costs. As part of the contracting process, tenders were reviewed by subject matter experts to assess quality, and the costs of the contract were assured by a third-party cost consultant appointed by the Home Office and independent of the constructor. The commercial arrangements also underwent scrutiny via a multi stage approval process including the Home Office’s Commercial Assurance Board, Migration and Borders Transformation Programme Board, and departmental Investment Committee, with final approval by Cabinet Office Spend Controls. The Home Office is committed to ensuring value for money on all IRC sites, and costs are refined during the planning process and once contractors have been onboarded. The Home Office does not comment on service provider procurement exercises, which are commercially sensitive. However, contracts are published upon the Contracts Finder website, once awarded.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 15050 on Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre, what assessment her Department has made of the cost-effectiveness of (a) Campsfield House and (b) other immigration removal centres.

Detention plays a key role in maintaining effective immigration controls and securing the UK’s borders, particularly in connection with the removal of people who have no right to remain in the UK but who refuse to leave voluntarily. The immigration removal estate is kept under review to ensure that the Home Office has sufficient resilience, geographical footprint and capacity for those men and women it is necessary to detain for the purposes of removal, while providing value for money. We are increasing detention spaces to support a higher pace of removals, including reopening Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC). This increase will ensure there is additional capacity to facilitate higher levels of enforcement and returns so that rules are properly respected. Development of Campsfield is being undertaken in two phases. A competition for the Phase 1 constructor was conducted between suppliers, using the Strategic Alliance framework, on a “Most Economically Advantageous Tender” basis, which considers both quality and costs. As part of the contracting process, tenders were reviewed by subject matter experts to assess quality, and the costs of the contract were assured by a third-party cost consultant appointed by the Home Office and independent of the constructor. The commercial arrangements also underwent scrutiny via a multi stage approval process including the Home Office’s Commercial Assurance Board, Migration and Borders Transformation Programme Board, and departmental Investment Committee, with final approval by Cabinet Office Spend Controls. The Home Office is committed to ensuring value for money on all IRC sites, and costs are refined during the planning process and once contractors have been onboarded. The Home Office does not comment on service provider procurement exercises, which are commercially sensitive. However, contracts are published upon the Contracts Finder website, once awarded.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 15154 on Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre, what review process was undertaken by her Department on the commercial agreement with Galliford Try for Phase 1 of the Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre design and build arrangement, signed on 29 May 2024.

Detention plays a key role in maintaining effective immigration controls and securing the UK’s borders, particularly in connection with the removal of people who have no right to remain in the UK but who refuse to leave voluntarily. The immigration removal estate is kept under review to ensure that the Home Office has sufficient resilience, geographical footprint and capacity for those men and women it is necessary to detain for the purposes of removal, while providing value for money. We are increasing detention spaces to support a higher pace of removals, including reopening Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC). This increase will ensure there is additional capacity to facilitate higher levels of enforcement and returns so that rules are properly respected. Development of Campsfield is being undertaken in two phases. A competition for the Phase 1 constructor was conducted between suppliers, using the Strategic Alliance framework, on a “Most Economically Advantageous Tender” basis, which considers both quality and costs. As part of the contracting process, tenders were reviewed by subject matter experts to assess quality, and the costs of the contract were assured by a third-party cost consultant appointed by the Home Office and independent of the constructor. The commercial arrangements also underwent scrutiny via a multi stage approval process including the Home Office’s Commercial Assurance Board, Migration and Borders Transformation Programme Board, and departmental Investment Committee, with final approval by Cabinet Office Spend Controls. The Home Office is committed to ensuring value for money on all IRC sites, and costs are refined during the planning process and once contractors have been onboarded. The Home Office does not comment on service provider procurement exercises, which are commercially sensitive. However, contracts are published upon the Contracts Finder website, once awarded.

Whether she plans to publish the findings of the review into the Tier 1 (Investor) visa route.

The Written Ministerial Statement of 12 January 2023, laid by the former Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Suella Braverman MP, provided the findings of the review into the Tier 1 (Investor) visa.

On what financial criteria her Department awarded Galliford Try the contract to redevelop Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre.

Development of Campsfield is being undertaken in two phases. The commercial agreement with Galliford Try for Phase 1 is a two-stage design and build arrangement. This arrangement was put in place on 24 January 2023 under a Project Partnering Agreement, following the former Home Secretary’s (Priti Patel) agreement to proceed with procurement plans for Campsfield in June 2022. A Commencement Agreement for Phase 1 construction was signed on 29 May 2024, following approval from the Cabinet Office on the 13 May 2024. The published contract award can be found at the following link: Campsfield IRC Phase 1 Refurbishment - Contracts Finder. A competition for the Phase 1 constructor was conducted between suppliers, using the Strategic Alliance framework, on a “Most Economically Advantageous Tender” basis, which considers both quality and costs. As part of the contracting process, the costs of the contract were assured by a third-party cost consultant appointed by the Home Office and independent of the constructor. The financial business case remains commercially sensitive. Public procurement is governed by a spends control process managed by the Cabinet Office. Departments have delegated authority to approve procurements within set maximum whole life costs. Where contracts exceed this value, they require Cabinet Office approval to award. The decision to proceed with the Commencement Agreement with Galliford Try for phase 1 construction was approved within the Home Office prior to submission to and subsequent approval by the Cabinet Office on 13 May.

When the decision was taken to award the contract to redevelop Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre.

Development of Campsfield is being undertaken in two phases. The commercial agreement with Galliford Try for Phase 1 is a two-stage design and build arrangement. This arrangement was put in place on 24 January 2023 under a Project Partnering Agreement, following the former Home Secretary’s (Priti Patel) agreement to proceed with procurement plans for Campsfield in June 2022. A Commencement Agreement for Phase 1 construction was signed on 29 May 2024, following approval from the Cabinet Office on the 13 May 2024. The published contract award can be found at the following link: Campsfield IRC Phase 1 Refurbishment - Contracts Finder. A competition for the Phase 1 constructor was conducted between suppliers, using the Strategic Alliance framework, on a “Most Economically Advantageous Tender” basis, which considers both quality and costs. As part of the contracting process, the costs of the contract were assured by a third-party cost consultant appointed by the Home Office and independent of the constructor. The financial business case remains commercially sensitive. Public procurement is governed by a spends control process managed by the Cabinet Office. Departments have delegated authority to approve procurements within set maximum whole life costs. Where contracts exceed this value, they require Cabinet Office approval to award. The decision to proceed with the Commencement Agreement with Galliford Try for phase 1 construction was approved within the Home Office prior to submission to and subsequent approval by the Cabinet Office on 13 May.

Which Minister was responsible for the decision to award the contract to redevelop Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre.

Development of Campsfield is being undertaken in two phases. The commercial agreement with Galliford Try for Phase 1 is a two-stage design and build arrangement. This arrangement was put in place on 24 January 2023 under a Project Partnering Agreement, following the former Home Secretary’s (Priti Patel) agreement to proceed with procurement plans for Campsfield in June 2022. A Commencement Agreement for Phase 1 construction was signed on 29 May 2024, following approval from the Cabinet Office on the 13 May 2024. The published contract award can be found at the following link: Campsfield IRC Phase 1 Refurbishment - Contracts Finder. A competition for the Phase 1 constructor was conducted between suppliers, using the Strategic Alliance framework, on a “Most Economically Advantageous Tender” basis, which considers both quality and costs. As part of the contracting process, the costs of the contract were assured by a third-party cost consultant appointed by the Home Office and independent of the constructor. The financial business case remains commercially sensitive. Public procurement is governed by a spends control process managed by the Cabinet Office. Departments have delegated authority to approve procurements within set maximum whole life costs. Where contracts exceed this value, they require Cabinet Office approval to award. The decision to proceed with the Commencement Agreement with Galliford Try for phase 1 construction was approved within the Home Office prior to submission to and subsequent approval by the Cabinet Office on 13 May.

If she will publish her Department's financial assessment of the contract to redevelop Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre.

Development of Campsfield is being undertaken in two phases. The commercial agreement with Galliford Try for Phase 1 is a two-stage design and build arrangement. This arrangement was put in place on 24 January 2023 under a Project Partnering Agreement, following the former Home Secretary’s (Priti Patel) agreement to proceed with procurement plans for Campsfield in June 2022. A Commencement Agreement for Phase 1 construction was signed on 29 May 2024, following approval from the Cabinet Office on the 13 May 2024. The published contract award can be found at the following link: Campsfield IRC Phase 1 Refurbishment - Contracts Finder. A competition for the Phase 1 constructor was conducted between suppliers, using the Strategic Alliance framework, on a “Most Economically Advantageous Tender” basis, which considers both quality and costs. As part of the contracting process, the costs of the contract were assured by a third-party cost consultant appointed by the Home Office and independent of the constructor. The financial business case remains commercially sensitive. Public procurement is governed by a spends control process managed by the Cabinet Office. Departments have delegated authority to approve procurements within set maximum whole life costs. Where contracts exceed this value, they require Cabinet Office approval to award. The decision to proceed with the Commencement Agreement with Galliford Try for phase 1 construction was approved within the Home Office prior to submission to and subsequent approval by the Cabinet Office on 13 May.

For what reason final approval of the redevelopment of Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre was provided by the Cabinet Office rather than her Department.

Development of Campsfield is being undertaken in two phases. The commercial agreement with Galliford Try for Phase 1 is a two-stage design and build arrangement. This arrangement was put in place on 24 January 2023 under a Project Partnering Agreement, following the former Home Secretary’s (Priti Patel) agreement to proceed with procurement plans for Campsfield in June 2022. A Commencement Agreement for Phase 1 construction was signed on 29 May 2024, following approval from the Cabinet Office on the 13 May 2024. The published contract award can be found at the following link: Campsfield IRC Phase 1 Refurbishment - Contracts Finder. A competition for the Phase 1 constructor was conducted between suppliers, using the Strategic Alliance framework, on a “Most Economically Advantageous Tender” basis, which considers both quality and costs. As part of the contracting process, the costs of the contract were assured by a third-party cost consultant appointed by the Home Office and independent of the constructor. The financial business case remains commercially sensitive. Public procurement is governed by a spends control process managed by the Cabinet Office. Departments have delegated authority to approve procurements within set maximum whole life costs. Where contracts exceed this value, they require Cabinet Office approval to award. The decision to proceed with the Commencement Agreement with Galliford Try for phase 1 construction was approved within the Home Office prior to submission to and subsequent approval by the Cabinet Office on 13 May.

With reference to the contract for the development of a Immigration Removal Centre at the former Campsfield House site in Oxfordshire, if there are any options for either party to (a) cancel and (b) vary the contract; and if this contract applies only to phase one of the development.

As previously announced, the Home Office is proceeding with plans to open an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) on the site of the former Campsfield House IRC.The contract referenced relates to building works for Phase 1 of the development being undertaken at the site. This may be terminated at any time by the Home Office, or by the contractor in the event of a breach of the terms of the contract.Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015 details the extent to which a contract can be amended after an award of contract.