HC Deb 02 February 2000 vol 343 c597W
Mr. Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide funds for the provision of accommodation at Chelmsford Prison to enable a full search of visitors suspected of possessing drugs. [107726]

Mr. Boateng

Visitors to Chelmsford prison are subject to a "pat-down" search and must pass through an X-ray portal. A passive drug detection dog is deployed. Visitors may not take property into the visits area and lockers are provided for bags and other possessions. Any items to be handed in to prisoners are X-rayed.

There are no plans to provide facilities for strip-searching of visitors at Chelmsford. Capital funding for the Prison Service is limited and other projects linked to

Decisions 1 made under the backlog clearance exercise on applications 2 lodged in the United Kingdom, up to the end of December 1995 January to December 1999
Number of principal applicants
Decisions on applications made between July 1993 and 31 December 1995 Decisions on applications made prior to July 1993
Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain Refused asylum and ELR after full consideration Refused on non-compliance grounds 3 Granted exceptional leave with immediate settlement Refused on non-compliance grounds under backlog criteria 3
January 420
February 5 525
March 20 360 * * 535 5
April 145 285 5 575
May 435 225 20 490
June 175 275 60 755
July 45 445 * 80 790
August 45 635 5 225 700 30
September 35 365 * 190 510 215
October 45 540 100 205 140
November 35 680 * 75 *
December 45 840 * 65 30
1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with '*' = 1 or 2
2 Excluding dependants
3 Paragraph 340 of Immigration Rules. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview to establish identity.