Asylum Seekers (Hansard, 31 January 1997)

§ Mr. Henderson
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide breakdowns of the number of asylum seekers currently detained under Immigration Act powers by (a) nationality, (b) gender, (c) place of detention, (d) length of detention and (e) immigration status at the time of application. [13263]
381W

§ Mr. Kirkhope
The requested breakdown of detained asylum seekers is given in the tables:

Table 1: Number of people recorded as being detained ^{1, 2} on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage, by gender and immigration status

Gender Port Illegal entrants Subject to deportation action Total

Male 353 280 48 681

Female 52 13 8 73

Total 405 293 56 754

¹ Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.

² 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 for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

Table 2: Number of people recorded as being detained ^{1, 2} on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage by stage of application and immigration status

Stage of application Port Illegal entrants Subject to deportation action Total

Awaiting initial decision 90 54 8 152

Awaiting result of appeal 219 132 28 379

Awaiting removal after refusal 96 107 20 223

Total 405 293 56 754

¹ Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.

² 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 for a short period, the figures should be used with caution

Table 3: Number of people recorded as being detained ^{1, 2} on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage by length of detention³ and immigration status

Length Port Illegal Entrants Subject to Deportation action Total

0–1 month¹ 74 92 7 173

1–2 months 54 57 9 120

2–6 months 169 107 26 302

6–12 months 88 30 11 129

12 months⁴ 20 7 3 30

Total 405 293 56 754

¹ Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.

² 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 for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

³ In some cases the date a person enters detention may be understated due to the method of recording

Table 4: Number of people recorded as being detained ^{1, 2} on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality and immigration status

Nationality Port Illegal entrants Subject to deportation action Total

Nigeria 58 26 22 106

Algeria 26 48 5 79

India 10 64 1 75

Sri Lanka 30 19 2 51

382W

Table 4: Number of people recorded as being detained ^{1, 2} on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality and immigration status

Nationality Port Illegal entrants Subject to deportation action Total

Zaire 35 4 3 42

Ghana 20 17 3 40

Pakistan 14 21 4 39

China People's

Republic of 29 9 0 38

Turkey 21 11 0 32

Romania 4 13 0 17

Cyprus 15 0 0 15

Israel 15 0 0 15

Angola 10 1 3 14

Bangaldesh 4 7 0 11

Gambia 9 1 1 11

Yugoslavia 3 6 1 10

Iran 6 2 1 9

Jamaica 1 5 3 9

Russia 4 4 0 8

Columbia 6 1 0 7

Ethiopia 4 3 0 7

Poland 6 1 0 7

Tanzania 4 1 2 7

Uganda 6 0 1 7

Kenya 5 1 0 6

Liberia 6 0 0 6

Lithuania 4 2 0 6

Sierra Leone 3 3 0 6

Ecuador 4 1 0 5

Ivory Coast 3 2 0 5

Morocco 1 3 1 5

Iraq 3 0 1 4

Lebanon 2 2 0 4

Slovakia 3 0 0 3

South Africa 2 0 1 3

Bulgaria 1 1 0 2

Cameroon 1 1 0 2

Congo 2 0 0 2

Eritrea 1 1 0 2

Philippines 0 2 0 2

Somalia 2 0 0 2

Tunisia 2 0 0 2

Zimbabwe 2 0 0 2

Other 11 7 1 19

Nationality doubtful 7 3 0 10

Total 405 293 56 754

¹ Persons detained solely under the powers contained in schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.

² 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 for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

Table 5: Number of people recorded as being detained ^{1, 2} on 11 December 1996 asylum at some state, by location of detention and immigration status

Port Illegal entrants Subjects to Deportation action Total

Prisons

HMP Rochester 74 50 13 137

HMP Haslar 34 48 4 86

HMP Birmingham 3 10 2 15

HMP Wormwood

Scrubs 4 4 0 8

HMP Magilligan 0 6 0 6

HMP Manchester 0 4 1 5

HMP Brixton 0 4 1 5

HMP Greenock 0 4 0 4

HMP Wandsworth 0 0 2 2

HMP High Down 0 1 1 2

HMP Elmley 0 2 0 2

HMP Doncaster 0 2 0 2

HMP Armley 0 2 0 2

383W

Table 5: Number of people recorded as being detained ^{1, 2} on 11 December 1996 asylum at some state, by location of detention and immigration status

Port Illegal entrants Subjects to Deportation action Total

Other prison 7 5 4 16

Other Places of Detention

Campsfield House 98 52 12 162

Tinsley House 66 38 8 112

Harmondsworth 62 22 3 87

Police Cells 10 22 4 36

Meadvale Buildings 25 8 0 33

Queens Building 12 2 0 14

Manchester airport detention suite 1 7 1 9

Dover Harbour 5 0 0 5

Other places of detention 4 0 0 4

Total 405 293 56 754

¹ Persons detained solely under the powers contained in schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.

² 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 for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

§ Mr. Henderson
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average time currently taken to reach an initial decision on(a) asylum applications submitted prior to the implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993, (b) asylum applications submitted since implementation of that Act and (c) all asylum applications; [13265]
(2) what is the average time currently taken to hear and determine an appeal against a refusal of asylum. [13266]

§ Mr. Kirkhope
Information on the times taken at the various stages of the asylum process are given in the table.

Average time involved in deciding applications for asylum (October-December 1996)

Months

Time taken for an initial decision to be made (pre-Act applications) 48.2

Time taken for an initial decision to be made (post-Act applications) 12.7

Time taken by the Home Office to process an appeal 1.2

Time taken by the Immigration Appeals Authority to determine an appeal 10.0

Table 1: Number of people recorded as being detained ^{1, 2} on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage, by gender and immigration status
Gender	Port	Illegal entrants	Subject to deportation action	Total
Male	353	280	48	681
Female	52	13	8	73
Total	405	293	56	754
¹ Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
² 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 for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

Table 2: Number of people recorded as being detained ^{1, 2} on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage by stage of application and immigration status
Stage of application	Port	Illegal entrants	Subject to deportation action	Total
Awaiting initial decision	90	54	8	152
Awaiting result of appeal	219	132	28	379
Awaiting removal after refusal	96	107	20	223
Total	405	293	56	754
¹ Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
² 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 for a short period, the figures should be used with caution

Table 3: Number of people recorded as being detained ^{1, 2} on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage by length of detention³ and immigration status
Length	Port	Illegal Entrants	Subject to Deportation action	Total
0–1 month¹	74	92	7	173
1–2 months	54	57	9	120
2–6 months	169	107	26	302
6–12 months	88	30	11	129
12 months⁴	20	7	3	30
Total	405	293	56	754
¹ Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
² 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 for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.
³ In some cases the date a person enters detention may be understated due to the method of recording

Table 4: Number of people recorded as being detained ^{1, 2} on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality and immigration status
Nationality	Port	Illegal entrants	Subject to deportation action	Total
Nigeria	58	26	22	106
Algeria	26	48	5	79
India	10	64	1	75
Sri Lanka	30	19	2	51

Table 5: Number of people recorded as being detained ^{1, 2} on 11 December 1996 asylum at some state, by location of detention and immigration status
	Port	Illegal entrants	Subjects to Deportation action	Total
Prisons
HMP Rochester	74	50	13	137
HMP Haslar	34	48	4	86
HMP Birmingham	3	10	2	15
HMP Wormwood
Scrubs	4	4	0	8
HMP Magilligan	0	6	0	6
HMP Manchester	0	4	1	5
HMP Brixton	0	4	1	5
HMP Greenock	0	4	0	4
HMP Wandsworth	0	0	2	2
HMP High Down	0	1	1	2
HMP Elmley	0	2	0	2
HMP Doncaster	0	2	0	2
HMP Armley	0	2	0	2

Average time involved in deciding applications for asylum (October-December 1996)
	Months
Time taken for an initial decision to be made (pre-Act applications)	48.2
Time taken for an initial decision to be made (post-Act applications)	12.7
Time taken by the Home Office to process an appeal	1.2
Time taken by the Immigration Appeals Authority to determine an appeal	10.0