As a member of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, I completely agree with Ministers that detention of pregnant women should be the very last resort and only done under exceptional circumstances. I have received assurances that the Home Secretary takes this matter exceptionally seriously and a review was commissioned last year into vulnerable people in detention. That review was undertaken by Stephen Shaw, and recommended that the Government adopt a wider definition of those at risk.
I was pleased that the Government accepted this recommendation, and is introducing a new 'adult at risk' concept into decision-making on immigration detention. This will rightly include women who are pregnant.
In many ways, it is regrettable that it is necessary to have detention, but as part of an immigration system that is fair to all, I do believe that detention is needed in those exceptional circumstances where people refuse to leave the country when they have been ordered to do. I would expect anybody who had been detained, male or female, to be treated with the utmost dignity.
I can assure you that where a matter affecting a pregnant woman being detained comes to light, it is looked at by officials with a great deal of urgency.