Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill

I wish to express my concerns in this area of detention and the detention of children. From discussions with inspectors, there is a view that arrests of families may be on the increase because it is a way for companies operating in this area to show that they are detaining a number of people in one go. It is simpler for them to detain a family than it is to detain individuals. On the other hand, it has always been held much less necessary to detain families because they are easier to keep in contact with, whereas individuals can easily be lost. I have heard that concern raised by inspectors. I would be grateful if the Minister could find out what the trend is regarding the number of families arrested and detained over time. The figures given by the noble Lord, Lord Hylton, on children in detention centres are suggestive of that rise.