Mr Blunkett told MPs tighter security measures would be brought in for asylum removal centres- and added that sprinkler systems would also be installed.

Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin described what had happened as "an exceptionally serious event" and led cross-party concern that there were no sprinklers in the building nor at the other four similar centres.

Much of Yarl's Wood was destroyed when inmates rioted 11 days ago.

Fire safety worries

There are still 233 male asylum detainees housed in the centre's unaffected block.

Before the fire, 384 people were detained in the centre, which has a capacity of 900.

Blunkett made a statement to MPs

The fire brigade's union has pressed for all remaining inmates to be released because the building is not safe, although the Home Office says it took a range of safety advice.

Mr Blunkett said there were 22 detainees, mainly failed asylum seekers, still on the run after the riot.

But he stressed: "I am not prepared to let government policy be determined by those intent on creating disorder and destruction."

Safety concerns have been increased by the escape of nine detainees from an asylum centre near Heathrow last week.

Asylum regime

But Mr Blunkett said government commitment to such centres would continue.

Mr Letwin said the Yarl's Wood riot had occurred in the course of a parliamentary recess which saw not only the announcement of an appalling rise in street crime but also the virtual collapse of Mr Blunkett's relationship with the police at all levels.

"I wholly agree with you about the need for an asylum regime very much more effective than that bequeathed to you by your predecessor Jack Straw," said Mr Letwin.

"But I fear the disaster at Yarl's Wood raises fundamental questions about the effectiveness of that new strategy," he said, calling for a public inquiry - a demand denied by Mr Blunkett.

Tory former minister Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald) warned that a "high degree of volatility" was built in to the centre by the gathering together of several hundred people "who are effectively without hope".

Voucher scheme

But Mr Blunkett said he did not accept that ministers could have expected the behaviour that had taken place at Yarl's Wood.

In earlier exchanges, the home secretary insisted that assessments for sprinkler systems were not based simply on cost, but on the "appropriateness of them".

In a mini-announcement, he also told MPs that he planned to bring forward the scrapping of the controversial voucher scheme for asylum seekers to a cash system from its original date in autumn to 8 April this year.

The insurance company for private security company Group 4, which runs the Yarl's Wood centre, is taking legal action to demand compensation from Bedfordshire Police for the riots damage under an 1886 act.

A Bedfordshire Police authority spokeswoman has said: "We find it quite outrageous and will resist it vigorously."