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Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons detained under Immigration Act powers applied to the Home Office to be allowed to depart voluntarily under (a) the supervised departure provisions and (b) the voluntary departure provisions of the immigration rules in each quarter since January 1993.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The readily available information relates to persons subject to deportation action who were removed under the supervised departure procedures, or left voluntarily, and persons dealt with as illegal entrants who left voluntarily. This information is given in the table. Most of these persons will have been detained prior to departure. A number will have been subject to restrictions as an alternative to detention, but such cases could be separately identified only at disproportionate cost.
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1993 1994
|1st quarter|2nd quarter|3rd quarter|4th quarter|Year |1st quarter|2nd quarter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Persons subject to deportation action:
Supervised departures |363 |287 |300 |268 |1,218 |244 |191
Departed voluntarily |37 |46 |37 |76 |196 |25 |21
Illegal entrants:
Departed voluntarily |68 |85 |114 |117 |384 |85 |80
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) husbands, (b) wives and (c) dependent children have been refused (i) extension of stay and (ii) settlement in the United Kingdom on the grounds
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that the Secretary of State is not satisfied that they can be maintained and accommodated without recourse to public funds, in each quarter since January 1993, and in total.Column 163
Mr. Charles Wardle : The available information relating to after entry cases is given in the table. Information on dependent children is not readily available.
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Refusals<1> on grounds of maintenance and accommodation, of after-entry
applications by husbands and wives (numbers of persons)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many appeals under the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 where cases have been dismissed but with a recommendation to the Home Office to reconsider the Home Office has (a) followed and (b) not followed the recommendation.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The information requested is not separately identifiable in the statistics.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, by country, were granted
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exceptional leave to enter or to remain in each month of 1992, 1993 and 1994 to the latest convenient date ; and how many of these were granted such leave because of (a) the situation in the country from which they claimed asylum or (b) the length of time the Home Office had taken to decide on their case.Mr. Charles Wardle : Information for 1992 to end June 1994, by quarter, on the number of grants of exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom, by nationality, is given in the table. Information on the reasons for which exceptional leave to remain is granted is not readily available.
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Cases<1><2> not recognised as refugees but granted exceptional leave, excluding dependants, by nationality, 1992 to 1994 (2nd quarter)
Number of grants to principal applicants
1992 1993 1994
Nationality |1st Qtr |2nd Qtr |3rd Qtr |4th Qtr |1st Qtr |2nd Qtr |3rd Qtr |4th Qtr |1st Qtr |2nd Qtr
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe and Americas
Bulgaria |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |* |*
Colombia |- |* |5 |* |* |* |* |* |* |5
Romania |5 |* |- |- |- |- |5 |- |- |-
Turkey |80 |40 |445 |970 |560 |235 |40 |20 |30 |5
Former USSR |* |- |* |- |* |* |- |- |- |5
Former Yugoslavia |- |- |* |- |- |* |5 |45 |220 |385
Others |* |* |5 |* |5 |* |* |- |- |*
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |90 |45 |455 |970 |565 |240 |55 |65 |255 |400
Africa
Angola |- |- |* |5 |* |- |* |- |- |-
Benin |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Cameroon |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Congo |- |- |- |5 |- |- |- |- |- |-
Ethiopia |30 |425 |855 |900 |1,465 |75 |25 |10 |10 |20
Ghana |5 |5 |10 |5 |- |* |5 |* |- |20
Nigeria<3> |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |- |* |5 |5 |* |5
Sierra Leone<3> |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |- |- |* |* |- |5
Somalia |470 |505 |720 |510 |1,200 |1,280 |265 |330 |320 |305
Sudan |5 |5 |25 |80 |215 |425 |15 |5 |5 |5
Togo and Ivory Coast |- |- |- |- |- |* |* |* |- |-
Uganda |5 |5 |175 |975 |805 |295 |15 |5 |10 |5
Zaire |* |* |* |5 |5 |5 |* |5 |- |*
Others |5 |5 |25 |50 |175 |120 |30 |25 |20 |20
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |520 |960 |1,810 |2,530 |3,865 |2,205 |365 |390 |370 |380
Middle East
Iran |50 |15 |280 |260 |65 |55 |5 |5 |5 |5
Iraq |60 |40 |455 |655 |145 |95 |45 |20 |50 |85
Lebanon |25 |5 |70 |505 |185 |70 |15 |5 |5 |5
Others |20 |5 |30 |70 |55 |30 |10 |5 |15 |10
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |150 |70 |835 |1,495 |455 |245 |70 |30 |75 |100
Asia
China |5 |* |* |10 |- |5 |* |* |* |*
India |185 |85 |125 |65 |20 |5 |5 |* |5 |20
Pakistan |180 |80 |90 |50 |25 |5 |5 |* |5 |10
Sri Lanka |270 |460 |2,060 |1,475 |2,285 |80 |30 |25 |20 |25
Others |100 |50 |65 |30 |65 |10 |5 |5 |* |5
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |740 |680 |2,345 |1,630 |2,395 |105 |45 |35 |35 |65
Other, and nationality
not known |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
|===== |===== |===== |===== |===== |===== |===== |===== |===== |=====
Grand Total |1,500 |1,755 |5,445 |6,625 |7,285 |2,790 |530 |520 |730 |950
<1> Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome appeals or other subsequent decisions.
<2> Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2.
<3> Figures for 1992 not separately identified = n/a. Included in Others.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the (a) passengers in total and (b) persons treated as illegal entrants who were granted temporary admission/release in 1993 subsequently absconded ; and how many (i) later reported voluntarily to the immigration authorities and (ii) were rearrested.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The available information relates to the number of persons who absconded, either from detention or by failing to respond to the terms of temporary admission/release, and is given in the table. The other information requested is not available.
Absconders in 1993
Category of person |Number of
|persons
---------------------------------------------------------
Passengers<1> |667
Illegal entrants |218
<1> May include some absconders recorded as "illegal
entrants".
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA tests to prove family relationships for immigration purposes have been carried out under the Home Office-funded scheme during (a) 1993 and (b) the first quarter of 1994, listed by country of origin ; what was the average waiting period for the test and for its results : and in how many of those tests the family relationships were proved to be as claimed by the applicants.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The available information is given in the table.
The average waiting time from the taking of a blood sample to a decision being made on DNA tests is six to eight weeks.
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DNA tests on children under the Government scheme, results received and outcomes
1993 to Q1 1994
Number of children
|Number |Tests offered |Number |Number |Outcomes
Country/post where |of tests |but not taken |awaiting |of results |Related as |Related as |Not related as
application made |carried out |results at |received |claimed to |claimed to |claimed to
|end of period |both parents |one parent |either parent
|but not other
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993
Indian sub-continent<1><2> |1,306 |20 |616 |1,214 |1,050 |60 |89
Bangladesh (Dhaka)<2> |793 |5 |361 |824 |712 |32 |65
Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi) 409 12 242 350 300 27 23
India (Bombay, New Delhi) 104 3 13 40 38 1 1
Outside of Indian sub-continent<3> 138 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) |23 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Ghana (Accra) |25 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Jamaica (Kingston) |6 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Kenya (Nairobi) |11 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Nigeria (Lagos) |43 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Philippines (Manila) |8 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Turkey (Istanbul) |1 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Thailand (Bangkok) |5 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Uganda (Kampala) |6 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Yemen (Sana'a) |11 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Q1 1994
Indian sub-continent<4><5>
Bangladesh (Dhaka)<5> |289 |9 |340 |303 |274 |7 |20
Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi) N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
India (Bombay, New Delhi)<5> 15 - 34 13 9 - -
Outside of Indian sub-continent<3> 54 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) |28 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Kenya (Nairobi) |9 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Nigeria (Lagos) |7 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Philippines (Manila) |4 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Thailand (Bangkok) |4 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
Turkey (Istanbul) |7 |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a
United Arab Emirates (Dubai) 2 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
N/a Not available.
- Nil return.
<1>In 1993, nine tests have also been carried out in Calcutta and one in Madras.
<2>Includes 15 tests in Dhaka for which the outcome is not known.
<3>Refers to the number of tests for which an invoice has been received.
<4>In the first quarter of 1994, three tests wer also carried out in Calcutta.
<5>Includes four tests in Bombay, and two in Dhaka for which the outcome is not known.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were waiting for special quota vouchers in (a) India, (b) east Africa and (c) the rest of the world in (i) May 1993 and (ii) December 1993 ; when those issued with vouchers on those dates had applied ; how many vouchers were issued in (1) India, (2) east Africa and
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(3) the rest of the world in (A) 1993 and (B) the first quarter of 1994 ; when those applying now can expect to receive vouchers ; and how many applicants there were for vouchers in (v) India and (w) East Africa and (x) the rest of the world in (y) 1993 and (z) the first half of 1994.Mr. Charles Wardle : The information which is currently available is given in the tables.
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Table 1. Persons applying for a special voucher for entry to the United
Kingdom, 1993 and Q1 1994
Number of persons
Country of Applications Vouchers issued Applications
application newly received awaiting a decision
at end of
|1993 |Q1 1994|1993 |Q1 1994|Q2 1993|Q4 1993
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
India |230 |40 |300 |- |40 |40
Kenya |190 |40 |160 |40 |30 |90
Tanzania |15 |- |10 |10 |60 |60
Malawi |-<1> |n/a |-<1> |n/a |- |n/a
Zambia |10 |-<2> |10 |-<2> |10 |-<2>
Rest of the world |10 |- |10 |- |- |-
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |450 |80 |490 |40 |140 |200
<1> Includes applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.
<2> 5 or fewer.
n/a Not available.
- nil.
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Table 2. Waiting times for persons applying for a
special voucher
Months
Waiting times to mPersons applying
for persons inter at end of<1>of
|Q2 1993 | Q4 1993| Q1 1994
------------------------------------------------------
India |3 |3 |-
Kenya |2 | 0.25 | 0.25
Tanzania |1 |1 |1
Malawi |- |- |n/a
Zambia |- |- |-
Rest of the world |- |- |-
<1> Data relate to expected waiting times.
n/a Not available.
- nil
Column 169
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were detained under Immigration Act powers for a period of more than two months on completion of a custodial sentence during 1993.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Some 55 people who completed a custodial sentence in 1993 were detained for more than two months under deportation powers. This figure does not include those subject to removal as illegal entrants, in relation to whom the information is not readily available.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many operations against people alleged to be in the United Kingdom illegally involving both immigration officers and police took place during 1993, and 1994 to the latest convenient date ; and for each operation by date, and by name how many (a) immigration officers and (b) police officers were involved ; how many people were arrested and found to be (i) legally in the United Kingdom, (ii) in breach of immigration conditions, (iii) alleged illegal entrants and (iv) British citizens ; how many requested and were granted legal advice before interview ; how many were detained for (x) one day or less, (y) between a day and a week and (z) over a week ; and how many have subsequently left the United Kingdom.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Joint immigration service/police operations are undertaken at local level, and many are on a relatively small scale. Information in the form requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding immigration applications there are at Lunar house, at the latest convenient date from (a) students, (b) family members in the United Kingdom applying for variation of stay, (c) settlement entry clearance applications referred from overseas posts and (d) asylum seekers ; and what are the average times applicants in each category might expect to wait before a decision.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The available information is that at the end of June 1994 there were in total about 24,500 cases in the general immigration case-working groups, including referred entry clearance applications, the majority of which were under consideration or the subject of further inquiries, and about 50,000 cases in the asylum and special cases division.
The estimated average length of time between the receipt of the application and the decision, for cases decided in case-working groups, in the first quarter of 1994, was about two months for students and about 13 months for asylum applications. Information on average waiting times for family members in the United Kingdom for variation of leave and for settlement entry clearance applications referred from overseas posts is not available.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications from over-age reapplicants from the Indian sub- continent seeking to join a sponsor settled in the United Kingdom have been (a) made, (b) deferred, (c) refused and (d) granted in 1993 and the first quarter of 1994 ; and how many such reapplicants in each category had undergone successful DNA tests.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The information requested is not available centrally.
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Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people during 1993 and the first quarter of 1994 were (a) required to undergo a medical examination and (b) refused entry clearance abroad, and in which countries, for (i) settlement and (ii) other purposes on medical grounds ; and what are the most common medical grounds for refusal.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of passengers detained overnight under Immigration Act powers during (a) 1993 and (b) the first quarter of 1994 by nationality.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The information requested for 1993 is given in the tables ; corresponding information for the first quarter of 1994 is not yet available.
Passengers<1> detained overnight or longer in 1993, by nationality
Geographical region |Number of
and nationality<2>
|persons
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All nationalities |5,571
European Community |79
Belgium |3
Denmark |1
France |36
Germany |-
Greece |1
Italy |4
Luxembourg |-
Netherlands |10
Portugal |24
Spain |-
Other Western Europe |333
Austria |5
Cyprus |51
Finland |4
Malta |4
Norway |3
Sweden |7
Switzerland |3
Turkey |192
Yugoslav passport holders |64
Eastern Europe |311
Bulgaria |9
Czechoslovak passport holders |26
Hungary |22
Poland |144
Romania |78
USSR passport holders |32
Americas |589
Argentina |8
Barbados |7
Brazil |72
Canada |30
Chile |1
Colombia |136
Guyana |18
Jamaica |194
Mexico |10
Peru |27
Trinidad and Tobago |8
United States of America |67
Venezeula |11
Africa |2,209
Algeria |131
Angola |55
Egypt |5
Ethiopia |70
Ghana |419
Kenya |152
Libya |38
Mauritius |28
Morocco |18
Nigeria |575
Sierra Leone |207
Somalia |148
South Africa |57
Sudan |14
Tanzania |66
Tunisia |6
Uganda |46
Zaire |145
Zambia |15
Zimbabwe |14
Indian sub-continent |397
Bangladesh |117
India |136
Pakistan |144
Middle East |113
Iran |26
Iraq |36
Israel |10
Jordan |2
Kuwait |4
Lebanon |21
Saudi Arabia |7
Syria |4
Yemen |3
Remainder of Asia |385
China |78
Hong Kong<3> |17
Indonesia |2
Japan |8
Malaysia |67
Philippines |9
Singapore |11
South Korea |12
Sri Lanka |181
Thailand |-
Australasia |12
Australia |9
New Zealand |3
Others |1,143
British Overseas Citizens |34
Other countries not elsewhere specified |727
Stateless |382
<1> Includes some illegal entrants and deportees.
<2> Or claimed nationality where the nationality is in doubt.
<3> Excluding Hong Kong stateless persons.
Mr. Miller : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations are carried out by Her Majesty's Government into the background of residents of the republics of the former Soviet Union when considering visa applications.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I have been asked to reply.
Entry clearance officers must be satisfied that all visa applicants, irrespective of their nationality, meet the requirements of the immigration rules before visas may be issued. In some cases, this will require inquiries to be made locally, in the United Kingdom, and/or of other overseas posts.
Hong Kong
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (i) British nationals and (ii) holders of certificates of identity from Hong Kong have been admitted to the United Kingdom in each quarter since January 1993 as (a) persons of independent means, (b) self-employed persons, (c) business people, (d) visitors, (e) students, (f) husbands and fiance s, (g) wives and fiance es and (h) other dependent relatives.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The available information for British dependent territories citizens and British nationals, overseas, from Hong Kong is given in the table. Corresponding data for quarters of 1994 are not yet available. Data on admissions of holders of certificates of identity from Hong Kong are not available.
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Admissions to the United Kingdom of BDTCs and BN(O)s from Hong Kong in 1993 Admission category |1st quarter |2nd quarter |3rd quarter |4th quarter |Year ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Visitors: Ordinary |7,350 |13,500 |20,900 |8,160 |50,000 Business |1,680 |2,090 |1,790 |1,220 |6,780 Students |530 |370 |5,630 |810 |7,340 Husbands and fiances<2> |<1>- |10 |10 |<1>- |20 Wives and fiancees<2> |40 |30 |30 |10 |110 Parents and grandparents<2> |<1>- |<1>- |<1>- |<1>- |10 Children<2> |10 |10 |20 |10 |50 <1> 5 or fewer. <2> Seeking, or accepted for, settlement in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for naturalisation have been made under the provisions of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990 ; and how many of them were (a) decided, (b) granted, (c) refused and (d) withdrawn, under each class and category of the scheme, in each quarter since January 1993 and in total throughout the existence of the scheme ; and how many of these applications were from (i) heads of households or (ii) family members.
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Mr. Charles Wardle : As at 30 June 1994, 108,502 applications had been received from heads of households. Information about family members is available only in respect of applications granted. Tables giving the other information requested are too lengthy to be printed in the Official Report and, therefore, copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
In the July to September 1993 quarter, a number of appplications previously refused were reopened, to replace applications that had been withdrawn. The number of refusals relating to that quarter has been reduced by the
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total number of reopened cases, which has resulted in negative refusal figures appearing for some occupational groups. The decisions subsequently reached in the reopened cases have been counted in the quarters in which they were made.Asylum
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum were made (a) at ports of entry and (b) to the Immigration and
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Nationality Department in each quarter since January 1993 ; how many asylum applications have been (i) decided, (ii) granted, (iii) refused but exceptional leave granted or (iv) refused in each quarter ; and how many applications are pending at the latest convenient date.Mr. Charles Wardle : Information for 1993 and the first half of 1994 on the number of applications for asylum by location of application, and on decisions made, is given in the table. At the end of June 1994, the estimated number of applications for asylum outstanding was 50,040.
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Applications<1> for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and decisions<1><2>
1993 to Q2 1994
Number of principal applicants
1993 1994
|1st Quarter|2nd Quarter|3rd Quarter|4th Quarter|1st Quarter|2nd Quarter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applications for asylum<3> |5,905 |5,535 |5,280 |5,650 |7,110 |7,620
Applied at port |1,560 |1,640 |1,875 |2,245 |2,260 |2,280
Applied in country |4,345 |3,895 |3,405 |3,400 |4,850 |5,340
Decisions<2><3><4> |12,085 |5,500 |2,555 |3,265 |4,365 |4,995
Recognised as a refugee and
granted asylum<5> |740 |545 |160 |150 |180 |205
Port |135 |100 |55 |35 |55 |80
In country |605 |440 |100 |110 |125 |125
Not recognised as a refugee but
granted exceptional leave to
remain |7,285 |2,790 |530 |520 |730 |950
Port |3,770 |1,380 |215 |240 |335 |495
In country |3,415 |1,510 |315 |280 |395 |455
Total refusals |4,065 |2,165 |1,870 |2,590 |3,460 |3,840
Refused asylum and ELR-after
full consideration |810 |835 |1,450 |1,605 |2,860 |3,010
Port |305 |150 |575 |625 |1,010 |995
In country |600 |585 |875 |980 |1,845 |2,015
Refused under para. 180F<6> |3,125 |1,130 |265 |720 |360 |590
Port |- |- |- |- |- |-
In country |3,125 |1,130 |265 |720 |360 |590
Refused on safe third country
grounds<7> |130 |200 |150 |265 |240 |240
Port |130 |200 |140 |250 |230 |230
In country |- |- |5 |20 |10 |10
<1>Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5.
<2>Information is of initial determination decisions excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
<3>Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.
<4>Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.
<5>Excludes South East Asian refugees.
<6>Paragraph 101 prior to 26 July 1993. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a
reasonable period, including failure to
respond to invitation to interview to establish identity.
<7>Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how long people who applied for asylum in (a) June 1992, (b) June 1993 and (c) June 1994 can expect to wait for a decision on their case ;
(2) what was the average length of time in 1992, 1993 and 1994 at the latest convenient date that asylum applicants had waited for a decision on their case.
Mr. Charles Wardle : For asylum applications resolved in 1992, 1993 and up to the end of June 1994, the average estimated length of time taken to reach a decision was 19.3 months, 18.8 months and 14.2 months respectively ; and for applications received since the implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993--26 July 1993 to 30 June 1994-- 3.6 months.
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Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance in order to seek asylum in the United Kingdom were (a) received and (b) granted by country during 1993 and the first quarter of 1994.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The information requested is not separately identifiable in the statistics.
Deportations
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were recommended for deportation with no custodial sentence during (a) 1993 and (b) 1994 to the latest convenient date ; and in how many such cases the courts directed release (i) subject to conditions and (ii) without conditions.
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Mr. Charles Wardle : During 1993, 13 people were recommended for deportation by the courts with no custodial sentence and 14 during the first half of 1994. The other information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Remand Prisoners
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average period of time for which a person has been held on remand in custody in prisons in England and Wales during the last 12 months.
Mr. Maclean : Estimates for the average number of days in custody in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales are published in table 2.1 of "Prison Statistics, England and Wales 1992", Cm. 2581, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. For the 12 months ending May, the average number of days in custody for untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners is provisionally estimated to be 56 days and 37 days respectively.
Property Investment (Foreign Nationals)
Mr. Miller : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations are carried out by Her Majesty's Government into the background of foreign nationals wishing to invest in property in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Under the immigration rules a person may be refused leave to enter on the ground that his exclusion is conducive to the public good, in the light of his character, conduct or associations. Inquiries into these matters are made where there is reason to do so, but there are no special arrangements in respect of people seeking admission with a view to investing in property.
Extraditions (United States)
Sir Roger Moate : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last 30 years the Home Secretary has refused a request by the United States for extradition from the United Kingdom.
Mr. Maclean : In the past 30 years, the Secretary of States has not refused any request from the United States which has been considered and approved by the courts ; but on at least two occasions his decision to order surrender to the USA has been set aside by the High Court in judicial review proceedings.
Immigration Detention Centres
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people (a) men and (b) women were being held in either prisons or immigration detention centres in England and Wales on 8 July 1994.
Mr. Maclean : On 8 July 1994, there were 47,391 males and 1,842 females held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. A further 83 males were held in police cells. Information on immigration offenders relates to those detained on 14 July and shows that there were 353 males and 45 females detained in immigration service accommodation. A further 38 males and 10 females were held in police cells for immigration offences on that date.
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Criminal Records
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his policy to encourage enforced subject access to crimninal records ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : No. It is not our policy to encourage enforced subject access to criminal records.
Prisoners (Movement)
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria followed by his Department as to the movement of prisoners from one establishment to another ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 19 July 1994 : The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the criteria followed as to the movement of prisoners from one establishment to another.
There is a wide range of factors which are considered when prisoners are moved from one establishment to another. These include whether the prisoner is unconvicted or sentenced, age, sex, security categorisation, type of offence, length of sentence, training or treatment needs, educational requirements, medical requirements, maintenance of control and good order, full utilisation of available accommodation, and the need to maintain family ties and prepare prisoners for release.
Citizenship
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many minor children born to a British overseas citizen parent outside the United Kingdom have (a) been registered or (b) been refused registration as (i) a British citizen or (ii) a British overseas citizen in each year since 1 January 1992.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The information is not available in the form requested. Minor children may apply for registration as British overseas citizens under section 27 of the British Nationality Act 1981. The numbers of grants made under this section, most of which will have been made to minor children born abroad to a British overseas citizen parent, are as follows :
|Numbers
------------------------
1992 |18
1993 |7
1994 |0
Prisons (Surplus Cell Capacity)
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in England and Wales that had surplus cell capacity as of 8 July.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Column 177
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 19 July 1994 : The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about surplus cell capacity.The attached list shows the prisons which held a smaller number of prisoners than their certified normal accommodation on 8 July 1994. Current population pressures and daily fluctuations in prisoner numbers mean that none of the spaces empty on that date can be regarded as surplus to our needs.
Local prisons and remand centres, which receive prisoners directly from courts on a daily basis, must have sufficient capacity to accept unpredictable numbers of prisoners. Vacancies in training prisons, where there is normally no overcrowding, are filled in groups so that efficient use is made of prisoner escorting arrangements. This can lead to some under occupation of training prison places.
When new prisons are opened, the capacity available is filled gradually to assist in maintaining stability. This is currently the position at Doncaster.
Establishments with population below CNA in use of 8 July 1994 Acklington
Albany
Aldington
Ashwell
Askham Grange
Aylesbury
Bedford
Belmarsh
Blakenhurst
Blundeston
Brinsford
Brockhill
Bullingdon
Bullwood Hall
Castington
Channings Wood
Coldingley
Dartmoor
Deerbolt
Doncaster
Dover
Downview
Drake Hall
Elmley
Erlestoke
Everthorpe
Featherstone
Feltham
Ford
Foston Hall
Frankland
Full Sutton
Garth
Gartree
Grendon
Guys Marsh
Hatfield
Haverigg
Highdown
Highpoint
Hollesley Bay
Holloway
Holme House
Huntercombe
Kingston
Kirklevington
Lancaster
Latchmere House
Leyhill
Lindholme
Littlehey
Long Lartin
Kirkham
Maidstone
Moorland
Morton Hill
Nottingham
Onley
Oxford
Parkhurst
Portland
Prescoed
Ranby
Reading
Risley
Rochester
Rudgate
Send
Spring Hill
Standford Hill
Stoke Heath
Sudbury
Swalesside
The Mount
The Verne
The Wolds
Thorn Cross
Thorp Arch
Usk
Wakefield
Wayland
Wellingborough
Werrington
Wetherby
Whatton
Whitemoor
Woodhill
Wymott
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