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European Directives
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in (a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated; [10060]
- (2) what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10072]
Mr. Howard: It is my Department's policy not to make regulations implementing European directives which add to the burdens imposed by such directives. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.
Fire Services
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of firefighters and officers per fire service for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [10239]
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Mr. Sackville: Information on the numbers of personnel in each fire authority is published annually in the reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for England and Wales. The reports for 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993-94 and 1994-95, Cm 1581, 2008, 2275, 2679 and 2998, each contain a table giving establishments and strengths at 1 January 1991 to 1 January 1995 respectively. However, these tables do not provide a breakdown into firefighters and more senior ranks and such information could not be provided except at disproportionate cost.
Illegal Immigrants
Mr. Marlow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the incidents involving illegal immigrants arriving at Gatwick in December 1993 absconding. [10469]
Mr. Kirkhope: I will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Marlow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons arriving at United Kingdom ports of entry have been allowed to go to temporary addresses in each of the last five years; and how many have absconded in each year. [10459]
Mr. Kirkhope: The information available is given in the table.
| Passengers granted temporary admission | Passengers who absconded(24) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 13,220 | 601 |
| 1992 | 16,967 | 530 |
| 1993 | 19,063 | 667 |
| 1994 | 19,327 | 1,240 |
| 1995(25) (26) | 23,084 | 1,577 |
(24) Either from temporary admission or detention or the control area at ports. The time period relates to when the passenger was recorded as an absconder, not when the passenger entered the country.
(25) January to October.
(26) Data for 1995 are provisional.
Immigration (Hong Kong)
Mr. Marlow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Hong Kong citizens have applied for United Kingdom passports; and how many dependents are estimated to arrive from each application. [10461]
Mr. Kirkhope: I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to applications for British citizenship made under the British nationality (Hong Kong) selection scheme. As at 26 November 1995, 108,768 principal beneficiary applications had been received. This figure includes invalid, ineligible and withdrawn applications and second applications from some of those unsuccessful in the first tranche of the scheme. So far, 48,376 of these
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applicants have been registered as British citizens, along with 80,207 dependants. The scheme allows for a maximum of 50,000 principal beneficiaries.
James Hanratty
Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute a public inquiry into the case of James Hanratty; and if he will make a statement. [10468]
Mr. Kirkhope: No. In 1974 Mr. Lewis Hawer QC was appointed to carry out an independent assessment of the case and his report, which did not conclude that there had been a miscarriage of justice, was published as Cm 6021. Following a request in July 1994 by solicitors acting for the late Mr. Hanratty's family, my officials arranged for scientific tests to be carried out on certain material relating to the case, but these proved inconclusive. We are currently considering what further action may be necessary in relation to other points raised by the solicitors.
Immigration (Detention)
Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were detained under Immigration Act powers (a) overnight, (b) between one night and one month, (c) for a period of more than one month up to two months and (d) for more than two months in (i) Harmondsworth detention centre, (ii) the Queen's building, Heathrow, (iii) Terminal 4, Heathrow, (iv) the Beehive, Gatwick, (v) HM prison Haslar, (vi) HM prison Pentonville, (vii) Campsfield house detention centre, (viii) HM prison Rochester, (ix) HM prison Holloway and (x) other establishments during (1) 1994 and (2) 1995 to the latest date for which information is available; and, of these people, how many in each category were (B) women, (B) children under 18 and (C) men; and what were the names of the establishments in (x); [7423]
- (2) how many people were received into (a) Prison Department establishments, (b) immigration detention centres and (c) police cells under Immigration Act powers during (i) 1994 and (ii) 1995 to the latest convenient date; how many of these were (1) asylum-seekers or (2) applying to remain on non-asylum grounds, by individual prisons establishment or detention centre; what was the average daily population of persons so detained in each of those years; what was the average length of time spent in detention by persons so detained in each of those years; and what was the nationality of persons so detained for each of those years. [7424]
Mr. Kirkhope [holding answer 9 January 1996]: Information on the total numbers of persons detained, analysed by nationality, is given in table 1. The number of detainees received into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales under the Immigration Act 1971 is given in table 2 for 1994 and for January to November 1995. The number is shown by the establishment of initial reception. The average population in 1994, including persons originally received for a criminal offence, was 487. The average for January to November 1995 is 481. A breakdown of receptions into Prison Service establishments by nationality is given for 1994 and for January to November 1995 in table 3.
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| Geographical region and nationality | 1994 | 1995 January-September(29) |
|---|---|---|
| European Economic Area | ||
| Austria | 1 | 1 |
| Belgium | 7 | 2 |
| Denmark | 1 | -- |
| Finland | -- | -- |
| France | 28 | 16 |
| Germany | 7 | 1 |
| Greece | 1 | 2 |
| Iceland | -- | -- |
| Ireland | -- | -- |
| Italy | 27 | 15 |
| Luxembourg | 3 | -- |
| Netherlands | 41 | 8 |
| Norway | -- | -- |
| Portugal | 32 | 8 |
| Spain | 3 | -- |
| Sweden | 7 | 2 |
| Total EEA | 158 | 55 |
| Europe | ||
| Bulgaria | 33 | 67 |
| Cyprus | 345 | 150 |
| Former Czechoslovakia | 59 | 47 |
| Hungary | 18 | 15 |
| Malta | 1 | 2 |
| Poland | 503 | 429 |
| Romania | 215 | 224 |
| Russia | 53 | 62 |
| Other former USSR | 100 | 119 |
| Switzerland | 3 | 5 |
| Turkey | 543 | 283 |
| Former Yugoslavia | 124 | 190 |
| Other Europe | 58 | 59 |
| Total Europe | 2,055 | 1,652 |
| Americas | ||
| Argentina | 8 | 6 |
| Barbados | 15 | 16 |
| Brazil | 109 | 85 |
| Canada | 26 | 23 |
| Chile | 13 | 6 |
| Colombia | 212 | 135 |
| Guyana | 33 | 26 |
| Jamaica | 411 | 325 |
| Mexico | 16 | 10 |
| Peru | 43 | 33 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 30 | 17 |
| USA | 115 | 80 |
| Venezuela | 16 | 10 |
| Other Americas | 200 | 199 |
| Total Americas | 1,247 | 971 |
| Africa | ||
| Algeria | 542 | 314 |
| Angola | 93 | 43 |
| Egypt | 25 | 15 |
| Ethiopia | 57 | 24 |
| Ghana | 865 | 431 |
| Kenya | 195 | 131 |
| Libya | 23 | 16 |
| Mauritius | 40 | 32 |
| Morocco | 105 | 44 |
| Nigeria | 1,633 | 985 |
| Sierra Leone | 319 | 45 |
| Somalia | 111 | 64 |
| South Africa | 108 | 70 |
| Sudan | 35 | 17 |
| Tanzania | 89 | 77 |
| Tunisia | 30 | 10 |
| Uganda | 65 | 32 |
| Zaire | 190 | 101 |
| Zambia | 37 | 35 |
| Zimbabwe | 55 | 46 |
| Other Africa | 684 | 386 |
| Total Africa | 5,301 | 2,918 |
| Asia | ||
| Indian sub-continent | ||
| Bangladesh | 311 | 228 |
| India | 827 | 616 |
| Pakistan | 566 | 390 |
| Total Indian sub-continent | 1,704 | 1,234 |
| Middle East | ||
| Iran | 48 | 59 |
| Iraq | 43 | 38 |
| Israel | 34 | 21 |
| Jordan | 11 | 1 |
| Kuwait | -- | -- |
| Lebanon | 21 | 14 |
| Saudi Arabia | -- | 1 |
| Syria | 6 | 3 |
| Yemen | 3 | 1 |
| Other Middle East | 8 | 8 |
| Total Middle East | 174 | 146 |
| Remainder of Asia | ||
| China | 172 | 371 |
| Hong Kong(30) | 33 | 30 |
| Indonesia | 6 | 4 |
| Japan | 30 | 11 |
| Malaysia | 112 | 130 |
| Phillippines | 58 | 10 |
| Singapore | 8 | 7 |
| South Korea | 13 | 14 |
| Sri Lanka | 279 | 147 |
| Taiwan | 1 | 3 |
| Thailand | 26 | 18 |
| Other Asia | 58 | 35 |
| Total Remainder of Asia | 796 | 780 |
| Oceania | ||
| Australia | 21 | 17 |
| New Zealand | 4 | 5 |
| Other Oceania | 2 | 2 |
| Total Oceania | 27 | 24 |
| British Overseas citizens | 16 | 10 |
| Stateless(31) | 568 | 450 |
| All Nationalities | 12,046 | 8,240 |
(27) Passengers detained overnight or longer.
(28) Excluding persons detained pending deportation following completion of a custodial sentence.
(29) Data for 1995 are provisional.
(30) Includes Hong Kong stateless persons.
(31) Excluding Palestine and Hong Kong stateless persons.
22 Jan 1996 : Column: 66
| Establishment | 1994 | 1 January-30 November 1995 |
|---|---|---|
| Remand Centres | ||
| Blakenhurst | 36 | 3 |
| Brinsford | 15 | 11 |
| Dorchester | 13 | 2 |
| Exeter | 12 | 11 |
| Feltham | 10 | 16 |
| Glen Parva | 1 | 1 |
| Haslar | 462 | 412 |
| Moorland | 1 | -- |
| Northallerton | 1 | -- |
| Lancaster Farms | 2 | -- |
| Local Prisons | ||
| Bedford | 1 | 3 |
| Belmarsh | 22 | 26 |
| Birmingham | 218 | 226 |
| Bristol | 24 | 42 |
| Brixton | 71 | 68 |
| Bullingdon | 5 | 3 |
| Canterbury | 52 | 9 |
| Cardiff | 6 | 4 |
| Chelmesford | 12 | 1 |
| Doncaster | 1 | 3 |
| Dover | 36 | -- |
| Durham | 9 | 4 |
| Elmley | 24 | 1 |
| Gloucester | 6 | 1 |
| Highdown | 40 | 26 |
| Hindley | 7 | 12 |
| Holloway | 34 | 45 |
| Holme House | 10 | 2 |
| Hull | 14 | 2 |
| Leeds | 20 | 27 |
| Leicester | -- | 4 |
| Lewes | 2 | 3 |
| Lincoln | 2 | 5 |
| Liverpool | 23 | 13 |
| Manchester | 88 | 45 |
| Norwich | 19 | 2 |
| New Hall | -- | 2 |
| Pentonville | 62 | 21 |
| Preston | 1 | 1 |
| Reading | 3 | -- |
| Risley | 8 | 2 |
| Rochester | 122 | 512 |
| Shrewsbury | 6 | -- |
| Swansea | 7 | -- |
| Wandsworth | 35 | 24 |
| Winchester | 10 | -- |
| Wolds | 8 | 11 |
| Wood Hill | 1 | 3 |
| Wormwood Scrubs | 44 | 74 |
| Closed training prisons | ||
| Dartmoor | -- | 1 |
| Establishment not recorded | 2 | 2 |
| Nationality not recorded/other | 33 | 25 |
| All Establishments | 1,641 | 1,711 |
(32) The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.
(33) Provisional figures.
22 Jan 1996 : Column: 67
| Nationality | 1994 | 1 January to 30 November 1995 |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | -- | 3 |
| Albania | 7 | 9 |
| Algeria | 151 | 124 |
| Angola | 24 | 21 |
| Anguilla | 2 | -- |
| Argentina | 2 | 1 |
| Ascensioni Island | 1 | -- |
| Austria | -- | 1 |
| Australia | -- | 3 |
| Bangladesh | 38 | 53 |
| Benin | -- | 2 |
| Barbados | 3 | 1 |
| Belgium | 1 | -- |
| Bolivia | -- | 1 |
| Bosnia-Herzogovina | 1 | -- |
| Brazil | 1 | 7 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 7 |
| Burkina Faso | -- | 2 |
| Cameroon, United Republic of | 6 | 5 |
| Canada | 4 | -- |
| Chad | 1 | -- |
| Chile | 2 | 1 |
| China | 18 | 79 |
| Colombia | 7 | 9 |
| Congo | -- | 2 |
| Cyprus | 15 | 8 |
| Czech Republic | 4 | 4 |
| Denmark | 1 | 1 |
| Dominica | 1 | 1 |
| Djibouti | 1 | -- |
| Egypt | 7 | 4 |
| Ethiopia | 7 | 5 |
| Equador | -- | 4 |
| Estonia | -- | 1 |
| Fiji | -- | 1 |
| Finland | -- | 1 |
| France | 7 | 7 |
| French Southern Territories | 1 | 1 |
| Gambia | 7 | 39 |
| Georgia | -- | 4 |
| Germany | 3 | 5 |
| Ghana | 124 | 79 |
| Greece | -- | 4 |
| Guyana | 2 | 2 |
| Haiti | 1 | -- |
| Hong Kong | 4 | 5 |
| Hungary | 2 | -- |
| India | 281 | 294 |
| Indonesia | -- | 2 |
| Iran | 11 | 13 |
| Irish Republic | 4 | 2 |
| Indian Ocean Territories | 1 | -- |
| Israel | 3 | 2 |
| Iraq | 4 | 10 |
| Italy | 4 | 8 |
| Ivory Coast | 17 | 2 |
| Jamaica | 58 | 83 |
| Japan | 1 | -- |
| Jordan | 2 | -- |
| Kazakhstan | 1 | 1 |
| Kenya | 13 | 9 |
| Laos Peoples Democratic Republic | -- | 1 |
| Lebanon | 6 | 2 |
| Liberia | 19 | 21 |
| Libya | 12 | 3 |
| Lithuania | 1 | 2 |
| Malaysia | 3 | 1 |
| Maldives | -- | 1 |
| Mali | 2 | -- |
| Moldova | 1 | -- |
| Morocco | 19 | 13 |
| Mauritius | 1 | 2 |
| Malawi | 1 | -- |
| Mozambique | 4 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 7 | 5 |
| Netherland Antillies | 1 | -- |
| Nepal | 4 | 1 |
| Nicaragua | -- | 1 |
| Niger | 4 | 1 |
| Nigeria | 237 | 235 |
| Pakistan | 100 | 106 |
| Peru | -- | 9 |
| Philippines | -- | 1 |
| Poland | 14 | 14 |
| Portugal | 7 | 1 |
| Romania | 26 | 71 |
| Russia | 9 | 15 |
| Rwanda | 2 | 8 |
| Senegal | -- | 2 |
| Serbia | -- | 1 |
| Singapore | 1 | 1 |
| Sierre Leone | 21 | 14 |
| Slovakia | 1 | -- |
| Somalia | 8 | 11 |
| South Africa | 14 | 14 |
| Spain | 2 | 5 |
| Sri Lanka | 25 | 28 |
| St. Lucia | 1 | 1 |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | -- | 1 |
| Sudan | 8 | 4 |
| Taiwan | -- | 1 |
| Tajikistan | -- | 1 |
| Tanzania | 6 | 5 |
| Toga | 1 | 2 |
| Tonga | 1 | -- |
| Thailand | 1 | 1 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 1 | 3 |
| Tunisia | 5 | 1 |
| Turkey | 104 | 53 |
| Uganda | 1 | 11 |
| United Arab Emirates | 1 | -- |
| United States of America | 3 | 11 |
| Venezuela | -- | 1 |
| Vietnam | 1 | 1 |
| Yugoslavia | 13 | 33 |
| Zambia | 5 | 4 |
| Zaire | 38 | 22 |
| Zimbabwe | 5 | 3 |
| Nationality not recorded/other | 35 | 27 |
| All | 1,641 | 1,711 |
(34) The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.
(35) Provisional figures.
22 Jan 1996 : Column: 68
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