§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers in the United Kingdom are currently held in detention; [50832]
(2) how many asylum seekers currently detained in the United Kingdom have been detained for (a) between one month and three months, (b) between three months and six months, (c) between six months and one year and (d) over one year. [50825]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAs at 30 June 1998, a total of 775 persons who had sought asylum at some stage were detained solely under Immigration Act powers. A breakdown showing the duration of time those persons had been continuously detained is given in the table.
Number of people recorded as being detained1,2 on 30 June 1998 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 month2 71 183 3 257 1–3 months 85 149 6 240 3–6 months 54 92 7 153 6–12 months 49 42 13 104 Over 12 months 3 12 6 21 Total 262 478 35 775 1Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971 2 These figures are approximate because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period 3Length of detention relates only to the current continuous period of detention
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answers of 28 April 1998,Official Report, column 96 and 7 May 1998, Official Report, column 452, when he expects the casework programme system to be used to deal with asylum casework. [50974]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienOfficials are in discussion with Siemens Business Services about the date on which the new Information Technology system will be introduced. With effect from 17 August, some cases will be dealt with 437W under new integrated caseworking procedures by a pilot group using currently available Information Technology support.