§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many instances in the past five years convicted prisoners, whose country of residence is not the United Kingdom, have requested that they be transferred to their own country; in how many cases these requests have been turned down; and in how many cases requests have been approved.
§ Mr. MellorThe United Kingdom was not party to any international arrangements for the transfer of prisoners out of the United Kingdom before 1 August 1985, when the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons came into effect. The information requested in respect of prisoners in England and Wales who are nationals of countries with which the United Kingdom has the necessary arrangements is given in the table for the period 1 August 1985 to 31 July 1986. In addition, 21 petitions were received in the same period from prisoners in England and Wales who were ineligible because they are not nationals of countries with which there is a repatriation arrangement.
797W
Requests from eligible nationals* for transfer out of prisons in England and Wales, 1 August 1985 to 31 July 1986 Numbers Total received from 1 August 1985 to 31 July 19862 of which position on 20 October 1986: 30 Approved by both governments2 3 15 Refused by other government2 4 Refused by United Kingdom 0 Withdrawn by prisoner4 7 Under consideration 4 1 For the period in the table, the other countries for which the convention was in force were France, Spain, Sweden, Canada and the United States. 2 Counting as one approved request a case which was initially refused but subsequently reconsidered and approved by the other government following a further petition. 3 Includes cases where the transfer has yet to take place. 4 Includes cases where the prisoner was discharged before all parties had agreed to the transfer.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently being held in custody whose country of residence is other than the United Kingdom; and for what crimes they are being held showing those held on remand and those convicted.
§ Mr. MellorThe readily available information relates to the nationality of sentenced prisoners and is given in the table. However, the usual country of residence of some of the foreign nationals is likely to be the United Kingdom. The recording of nationality for citizens of Commonwealth countries, Pakistan and Eire is not sufficiently reliable for estimates of their numbers to be given.
Estimated sentenced population1 of foreign nationality (excluding citizens of Commonwealth countries, Pakistan and Eire) in Prison Department establishments on 31 August 1986: by offence group. Offence group Estimated number2 Violence against the person 130 Rape 15 Other sexual offences 20 Burglary 55 Robbery 30 Theft, handling, fraud and forgery 110 Drugs offences 230 Other offences 70 Court martial prisoners — Not recorded 10 Fine Defaulters 15 Non-criminal 25 TOTAL 700 1 Based on records held centrally which are approximate; detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost. 2 Rounded estimates; the components do not add to the total, because they have been rounded independently.