27 Jan 1997 : Column: 1
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 27 January 1997
HOME DEPARTMENT
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Animal Procedures Committee will publish the findings and outcome of the review of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville: The review of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 by the Animal Procedures Committee is still in progress. It is hoped that the committee will make a preliminary report to the Secretary of State by July 1997.
Detainees
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that all people held in custody under immigration law will be given the reasons for their incarceration in writing in their mother tongue; and if he will make a statement. [13055]
Mr. Kirkhope: All immigration detainees are fully informed of the reasons for their detention. This is done orally, in a language which the person understands, through an interpreter if necessary. The Government see no justification for providing written reasons.
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the current total of immigration detainees are (a) awaiting deportation, (b) awaiting an appeal and (c) not subject to any process.[13060]
Mr. Kirkhope: There were 891 persons recorded as being in detention solely under Immigration Act powers on 11 December 1996. This figure excludes non-asylum port cases who have been in detention for less than a month; information on such persons is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Information on the current stage of the 891 cases is given in the table.
| Current stage of case | Number of persons |
|---|---|
| Asylum seekers | |
| Awaiting initial decision | 152 |
| Awaiting result of appeal | 379 |
| Awaiting removal after refusal | 223 |
| Other persons | |
| Deportation cases awaiting removal | 30 |
| Deportation cases awaiting appeal decision | 20 |
| Other cases(1) | 87 |
| Total | 891 |
(1) Information on these cases could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
27 Jan 1997 : Column: 2
Asylum Seekers
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of asylum seekers held in detention at the end of (i) October, (ii) November and (iii) December; in which establishments they were held; what were their (a) nationalities and (b) gender; and how many were deported and from which establishments. [12321]
Mr. Kirkhope: The available information on asylum seekers detained, and on the number deported from detention, is given in the tables. The number deported does not include those who are removed as illegal entrants or under port refusal procedures.
| Month | Number of deported asylum detainees(4) |
|---|---|
| October | 8 |
| November | 7 |
| December | 12 |
(2) Provisional figures.
(3) Removed under the deportation process, including those who departed voluntarily after deportation action had been initiated.
(4) Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedules 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
| Gender | As at 5 November | As at 11 December |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 739 | 681 |
| Female | 69 | 73 |
| Total | 808 | 754 |
(5) Persons detained only under the powers contained in Schedules 2 or 3 Immigration Act 1971.
(6) These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.
27 Jan 1997 : Column: 3
| As at 5 November | As at 11 December | |
|---|---|---|
| Prisons | ||
| HMP Rochester | 145 | 137 |
| HMP Haslar | 98 | 86 |
| HMP Birmingham | 21 | 15 |
| HMP Wormwood Scrubs | 10 | 8 |
| HMP Magilligan | 8 | 6 |
| HMP Brixton | 4 | 5 |
| HMP Manchester | 3 | 5 |
| HMP Greenock | 4 | 4 |
| HMP Armley | -- | 2 |
| HMP Doncaster | 2 | 2 |
| HMP Elmley | 2 | 2 |
| HMP High Down | -- | 2 |
| HMP Wandsworth | 3 | 2 |
| Other prison(7) | 25 | 16 |
| Other places of detention | ||
| Campsfield House | 153 | 162 |
| Tinsley House | 110 | 112 |
| Harmondsworth | 91 | 87 |
| Police Cells | 42 | 36 |
| Meadvale Buildings | 33 | 33 |
| Queens Buildings | 7 | 14 |
| Manchester Airport | 10 | 9 |
| Dover Harbour | 14 | 5 |
| Other place of detention(9) | 23 | 4 |
| Total | 808 | 754 |
(7) Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedules 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
(8) These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.
(9) The "Others" categories may include places of detention already listed.
| Nationality | As at 5 November | As at 11 December |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 114 | 106 |
| Algeria | 68 | 79 |
| India | 70 | 75 |
| Sri Lanka | 55 | 51 |
| Zaire | 43 | 42 |
| Ghana | 46 | 40 |
| Pakistan | 44 | 39 |
| China | 42 | 38 |
| Turkey | 38 | 32 |
| Romania | 19 | 17 |
| Cyprus | 17 | 15 |
| Israel | 15 | 15 |
| Angola | 19 | 14 |
| Bangladesh | 13 | 11 |
| Gambia | 14 | 11 |
| Yugoslavia | 15 | 10 |
| Iran | 9 | 9 |
| Jamaica | 9 | 9 |
| Russia | 9 | 8 |
| Columbia | 14 | 7 |
| Ethiopia | 9 | 7 |
| Poland | 10 | 7 |
| Tanzania | 6 | 7 |
| Uganda | 5 | 7 |
| Kenya | 5 | 6 |
| Liberia | 10 | 6 |
| Lithuania | 5 | 6 |
| Sierra Leone | 6 | 6 |
| Ecuador | 4 | 5 |
| Ivory Coast | 7 | 5 |
| Morocco | 5 | 5 |
| Iraq | -- | 4 |
| Lebanon | -- | 4 |
| Slovakia | 5 | 3 |
| South Africa | 3 | 3 |
| Bulgaria | 2 | 2 |
| Cameroon | -- | 2 |
| Congo | 2 | 2 |
| Eritrea | 3 | 2 |
| Philippines | -- | 2 |
| Others (12) | 41 | 25 |
| Nationality doubtful | 7 | 10 |
| Total | 808 | 754 |
(10) Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedules 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
(11) These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.
(12) The "Others" categories may include places of detention already listed.
Dr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people who had applied at some stage for asylum were deported from Birmingham prison during (i) October, (ii) November and (iii) December; and what were their nationalities; [12325]
- (2) how many people who had applied at some stage for asylum were detained in Birmingham prison during (i) October, (ii) November and (iii) December; and what were their nationalities. [12324]
Mr. Kirkhope: The available information on asylum seekers detained in Her Majesty's prison, Birmingham is given in the table.
| 5 November | 11 December | |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | ||
| India | 9 | 7 |
| Israel | 4 | -- |
| Nigeria | 3 | -- |
| Algeria | 2 | 5 |
| Others(14) | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 21 | 15 |
(13) Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedules 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
(14) The "Others" category may include nationalities already listed.
27 Jan 1997 : Column: 5
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