§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers were held at Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster in each month since January 1996; [14596]
(2) what was the average length of time spent in custody by asylum seekers held at HMP Doncaster during 1996. [14589]
§ Mr. KirkhopeInformation on the number of asylum seekers detained—under sole Immigration Act powers—at Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster for selected dates during 1996 is given in the table.
17WEstimates for the average length of detention can be obtained only through examination of individual case records and, therefore, the information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.
Asylum seekers recorded as being detained 2 3 at Her Majesty's prison Doncaster, as at selected dates during 1996 Detained as at Total1 31 January * 29 February * 29 March * 10 April * 31 May/7 June4 3 27 June * 30 July/2 August5 * 4 September * 1 October * 5 November * 11 December * 1 * = 1 or 2.2 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971. 3 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 short period, the figures should be used with caution. 4 Port cases are as at 7 June and In-country cases are as at 31. 5 Port cases are as at 2 August and In-country cases are as at 30 July.