HC Deb 12 March 2001 vol 364 cc489-90W
23. Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are being held in detention under provisions of immigration law. [151725]

Mrs. Roche

The most recent information relates to the number of people detained under the Immigration Act 1971 as at 31 January 2001. At that (late a total of 1,334 people were recorded as detained.

Current information on people detained who have claimed asylum is not available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

31. Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the detention centre rules 2001 will apply to all asylum seekers subject to detention. [151733]

Mrs. Roche

Detention centre rules 2001 apply to all those detainees accommodated in dedicated immigration detention centres. Persons detained in Prison Service establishments are governed by prison rules.

35. Mr. Robathan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) illegal immigrants and (b) asylum seekers have been (i) refused asylum and (ii) deported since 1 January. [151737]

Mrs. Roche

In January 2001, 485 people were removed from the United Kingdom following illegal entry action. Of this number, 255 had sought asylum at some point.

The number of initial decisions to refuse asylum and exceptional leave to remain taken in January 2001 was 10,935. The total number of unsuccessful asylum seekers removed in January 2001 was 635.

Information on the number of illegal immigrants refused asylum is not readily available and could be produced only by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

I regret that data for February are not yet available. Figures given in this reply are provisional and have been rounded to the nearest five.

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