HC Deb 07 February 2001 vol 362 cc615-6W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent involvement his Department has had with high commissioners and ambassadors based in the UK concerning nationals from their country being held in prison in the UK awaiting deportation; and if he will make a statement. [148894]

Mr. Boateng

A Prison Service seminar for consular and embassy staff, in co-operation with the Foreign Nationals Unit of Middlesex Probation Service, to consider training and other issues of general interest or concern is normally held annually. The last seminar was on 20 June 2000 and the next event will be held on 22 February 2001.

The United Kingdom is a signatory to the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. This requires the disclosure of information on foreign national prisoners to those countries with which bilateral consular conventions or agreements requiring notification of the arrest and detention of their nationals are in force. However, these arrangements do not apply when it is known that a foreign national is seeking asylum in this country or is detained under the Immigration Act 1971 and is representing on political, religious or ethnic grounds that they should not be deported or removed. In such circumstances notification should be sent to the consular officer, nor should the foreign national be allowed to communicate with a consular officer until directions have been obtained from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. It would not be appropriate to disclose details of individual cases of foreign nationals being held in prison awaiting deportation.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the longest period a person currently being held in prison in England and Wales awaiting deportation has been held. [148895]

Mr. Boateng

On 31 December 2000, there were 101 people held in prison in England and Wales who were recorded as awaiting deportation. The longest period any of these persons had been held awaiting deportation was 282 days, having been held since 24 March 2000.