Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost in 1994–95 to his Department of detaining persons under Immigration Act powers in(a) Immigration Service detention centres, (b) Prison Service establishments and (c) police cells. [26291]
§ Mr. Nicholas Baker[holding answer 25 May 1995]: The total cost of detaining persons under Immigration Act powers in Immigration Service detention centres in 1994–95 was £11.35 million. Both custodial and in-country escorting costs are included in this figure. The cost of detaining persons under the Act in Prison Service establishments cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost since accounting systems do not distinguish between Immigration Act detainees and those on remand or serving a prison sentence. In the year 1994– 494W 95 the police charged the Immigration Service £993,000 for the use of police cells and for escort duties.
In appropriate cases, the immigration department recovers costs from carriers under schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971.