§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were seeking asylum in Britain at the latest available date; what were the comparable figures for(a) March 1992 and (b) March 1993; and how many current asylum seekers are (i) at liberty, (ii) in detention centres, (iii) in police cells and (iv) in prison.
§ Mr. Charles WardleAt 28 February 1994—the latest date for which the information is available—an estimated 47,100 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, were outstanding. The corresponding estimates for 28 February 1992 and 28 February 1993 were 60,400 and 43,700 respectively.
On 21 March 1994 a total of 645 people who had sought asylum were detained. This figure includes people awaiting the setting of directions for removal following refusal of the application, as well as those whose application was under consideration or subject to appeal. Of this figure, 363 were in detention centres, 35 in police cells and 247 in prison.
Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers held at Campsfield house immigration detention centre have been transferred to Prison Service accommodation and for what reasons since 1 March; to which Prison Service establishments they were transferred; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles WardleTen people who had sought asylum have been transferred from the immigration detention centre, Campsfield house to Prison Service accommodation since 1 March because of their disruptive behaviour.
442WFour were transferred to Birmingham prison, three to Blakenhurst, two to Bullingdon and one to Holloway.
Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently held in detention; and how many of them were in(a) Campsfield house immigration detention centre, (b) Harmondsworth immigration detention centre, (c) other immigration service accommodation, (d) Haslar Home Office holding centre, (e) Dover young offenders centre and (f) other Prison Service accommodation.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe available information shows that on 17 March 1994 a total of 654 people who had sought asylum at some stage, including those who are awaiting removal or the determination of an appeal, were held in detention. The numbers held in the establishments listed in the question were as follows:
Number (a) Campsfield House Detention Centre 174 (b) Harmondsworth Detention Centre 88 (c) Other Immigration Service Accommodation 31 (d) Haslar Holding Centre 91 (e) Dover Young Offenders Institution 23 (f) Other Prison Service Accommodation 211 Total 618
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of keeping asylum seekers in custody per head for each of the past three years; and what has been the total cost in each of those years.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe available information does not identify separately those detention costs which relate to people who have sought asylum.