HC Deb 10 December 1998 vol 322 cc264-5W
Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to review procedures for the repatriation of prisoners serving a sentence in England and Wales to their country of origin; and if he will make a statement; [63050]

(2) how many foreign prisoners were repatriated to their country of origin in (a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997 and (d) the first nine months of 1998; and how many in each case were repatriated to the Republic of Ireland. [63051]

Mr. George Howarth

Details of prisoners who have been transferred from England and Wales to foreign jurisdictions under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons over the period in question, and, of these, the numbers transferred to the Republic of Ireland, are set out in the table.

No prisoners were transferred from England and Wales under the Commonwealth Scheme for the transfer of Convicted Offenders or the United Kingdom's bilateral prisoner transfer agreements with Egypt, Thailand and Hong Kong.

Procedures for handling applications from prisoners in England and Wales who wish to serve out their sentence in their own country, including the criteria and arrangements for their removal, are kept under regular review.

Year Number
Prisoners transferred to foreign jurisdictions
1995 12
1996 21
1997 17
19981 44
Prisoners transferred to the Republic of Ireland
1995 0
1996 7
1997 12
19981 27
1 up to and including 7 December

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners serving sentences of imprisonment in England and Wales were transferred under the Council of Europe Convention on the transfer of sentenced prisoners during(a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997 and (d) 1998 to date; and how many of these prisoners emanated from the Irish Republic; [63039]

(2) how many foreign nationals serving sentences of imprisonment in England and Wales are nationals of countries to which repatriation of prisoners from the United Kingdom may take place under the terms of the Council of Europe Convention on the transfer of sentenced prisoners. [63037]

Mr. George Howarth

The numbers of prisoners transferred from England and Wales to foreign jurisdictions under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, over the period in question, and of those, the numbers transferred to the Republic of Ireland, are set out in the table.

No prisoners were transferred from England and Wales under the Commonwealth Scheme for the Transfer of Convicted Offenders or the United Kingdom's bilateral prisoner transfer agreements with Egypt, Thailand and Hong Kong.

On 30 September 1998, the number of sentenced prisoners held in establishments in England and Wales recorded as being nationals of the 41 countries to which repatriation from the United Kingdom is possible under the terms of the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons was 1,424.

Year Number
Prisoners transferred to foreign jurisdictions
1995 12
1996 21
1997 17
19981 44
Prisoners transferred to the Republic of Ireland
1995 0
1996 7
1997 12
19981 27
1Up to and including 7 December