§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many instances there were in(a) 1993 and (b) 1994 where the decision of a chief immigration officer to detain an asylum seeker was overturned by (i) the first seven-day review, (ii) the second seven-day review, (iii) the third seven-day review, (iv) the first monthly review, (v) the second monthly 246W review, (vi) the third monthly review, (vii) the fourth monthly review and (viii) the sixth monthly review;
(2) how many instances there were (a) in 1993 and (b) in 1994 where a decision of a chief immigration officer to detain an asylum seeker was overturned by an immigration service inspector within 24 hours of that decision.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to allow applicants for asylum to contest the initial decision of a chief immigration officer to detail them before an independent appellate authority before their full application for asylum is heard.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerAs it stands the law provides, for any detainee who has an appeal outstanding or who has been detailed for more than seven days for further examination having sought entry to the United Kingdom, an opportunity to apply to the independent appellate authorities for bail. The Government have no plans to change these provisions, which apply to asylum seeks as to others.