Oxford West and Abingdon MP Dr Evan Harris demanded last night that the Home Secretary makes a statement on the running of Campsfield House.

In a question to Ann Taylor, the Leader of the House of Commons, at Westminster, Dr Harris asked if Jack Straw would confirm come to the dispatch box on Monday.

He wants to know whether the Government will continue to back private company Group 4 in running Campsfield House after the "incompetence and unreliability" of security officers in the Campsfield Nine trial.

And he is urging ministers to accept the advice of the inspector of prisons, Sir David Ramsbottom, and no longer allow asylum seekers to be removed to custody.

"It was the removal of two men on the morning of August 20 last year which sparked the riot at Campsfield House immigration detention centre, in Langford Lane, Kidlington, causing £100,000 damage.

The trial at Oxford Crown Court of nine detainees accused of riot and violent disorder dramatically collapsed on Wednesday because the evidence of prosecution witnesses - mainly Group 4 officers - was unreliable.

Dr Harris said: "I want to ask the Home Secretary whether it was appropriate that Group 4's contract should be renewed and whether prison should still be used in light of this trial." "I understand six of the detainees are now being held in Rochester prison despite going through the trial and being proven innocent. That seems wrong and vindictive to me."

Home Office minister Mike O'Brien recently gave Campsfield an Investor in People award, saying: "Staff at Campsfield House have come in for a lot of criticism from ignorant people who do not understand the situation at all."

Dr Harris said yesterday that those "ignorant people" included himself and many professors from Oxford University.

He added: "Despite abuse from Mike O'Brien it turns out I was right after all. The boot's on the other foot."

Dr Harris put his question during "Questions on next week's business" at the Commons yesterday.

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