§ Mr. George Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants have been held in detention as suspected illegal entrants since 1st January 1973.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonBetween 1st January 1973 and 31st December 1975, 599 Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals were detained under paragraph 16 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 as suspected illegal entrants.
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§ Mr. George Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the average and the longest periods of detention of suspected illegal immigrants while inquiries were being pursued.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonThe immediately available information is from a sample of cases of Commonwealth citizens detained during the last three years under paragraph 16 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 as suspected illegal entrants. This yields an average period of time for which a Commonwealth citizen was detained while his case was considered of 42 days, and a longest period of 311 days.
§ Mr. George Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances a suspected illegal immigrant may be released during the period of investigation.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonBecause of the nature of the offence, a person once detained as an illegal entrant is not normally released while his case remains under consideration; but release would be considered where exceptional compassionate circumstances existed.
§ Mr. George Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the longest period of detention before a suspected illegal immigrant has been released.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonIn a 65 per cent. sample of cases over the last three years, the longest period for which a Commonwealth citizen or citizen of Pakistan has been detained under paragraph 16 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 as a suspected illegal entrant before being released and allowed to remain here was 199 days.
§ Mr. George Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants held in detention as suspected illegal immigrants have subsequently been deported.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonBetween 1st January 1973 and 31st December 1975, 465 Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals were removed from the United Kingdom after being detained under paragraph 16 of Schedule 2 to the Immigra-148W tion Act 1971, as suspected illegal entrants.
§ Mr. George Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to amend the workings of paragraph 16 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971, which permits the indefinite detention of a person suspected of being an illegal immigrant; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonWe have no plans for such amendment.