§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that asylum seekers will he removed from unconverted Prison Service accommodation by 25 December 2001, and if he will make a statement. [9451]
§ Angela EagleWe are currently using 500 surplus remand spaces for immigration detainees in seven local prisons in England and Wales on a temporary basis until new dedicated immigration detention centres come on stream later this year. We are committed to cease using one of those prisons, Cardiff, by Christmas and to cease using the other six local prisons by the end of January 2002.
§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if an asylum seeker detained in a prison is considered a prisoner; and if he will make a statement. [9118]
§ Angela EaglePersons detained in prison solely while their application for asylum is being considered, or where awaiting removal following a failed asylum application, or deportation by order of a court following the completion of a prison sentence of more than 12 months are immigration detainees. They are held under the same conditions as unconvicted prisoners with the same rights and privileges.
Asylum seekers who are serving a prison sentence following conviction by a court are treated accordingly.
§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to(a) prioritise and (b) speed up decisions on asylum seekers' applications where delay would have serious detrimental social or medical consequences for the asylum seekers themselves or members of their families; and if he will make a statement. [9125]
§ Angela EagleWe are investing substantial resources to speed up the asylum process for all applicants. Where there are genuine and compelling medical or other reasons for prioritising individual applications, we endeavour to do so.