§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons are currently in prison awaiting deportation under the provisions of the Immigration Act; and how many of these are (a) white and (b) women;
623W(2) how many persons are in detention centres awaiting deportation under the terms of the Immigration Act; and how many of them are, (a) white and (b) women;
(3) if he will list those institutions used for holding persons awaiting deportation orders under the provisions of the Immigration Act and the number of such persons held in each at the latest available date.
§ Mr. JohnPersons subject to deportation proceedings under the provisions of the Immigration Act 1971 are normally held in local prisons and remand centres.
On 15th November 1977 there were 225 males and 13 females held in these establishments in England and Wales under powers of detention conferred by the 1971 Act. These figures include persons awaiting removal as illegal immigrants. No information is available about colour.
Following are details of the numbers in each location:
PRISONS Males Birmingham 28 Canterbury 3 Durham 3 Exeter 1 Leeds 10 Lincoln 2 Norwich 3 Pentonville 147 Winchester 2 Females Holloway 12
REMAND CENTRES Males Ashford 3 Brockhill 2 Latchmere House 9 Risley 12 Females Risley 1
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons have so far been held in custody in 1977 while awaiting deportation under the provisions of the Immigration Act;
(2) if he will list the nationality of those held in custody in 1977 while awaiting deportation under the provisions of the Immigration Act and indicate in each case the numbers held.
§ Dr. Summerskill1,558 people have been held in prison in England and Wales624W between 1st January and 15th November 1977 as non-criminal prisoners under the Immigration Act 1971. No information is recorded centrally about the nationality of prisoners. However the table below summarises their countries of birth.
Persons held in prison 1st January–15th November, 1977, under the Immigration Act 1972: by country of birth Indian subcontinent 669 Africa 269 Europe 135 Republic of Ireland 55 Asian-Commonwealth 33 America Commonwealth 26 Australian/Canada/New Zealand 20 United States of America 17 Other 294 Not known 40 1,558
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what happens to the children, if any, of persons held in custody while awaiting deportation under the terms of the Immigration Act.
§ Dr. SummerskillIt is not the normal practice to detain a person subject to deportation proceedings if it is known that there are children solely dependent on him or her. There have occasionally been such cases where detention has been considered necessary and appropriate arrangements have then been made as required for the care of the children.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any children, and how many, are being held in Prison Department establishments while their parents are in custody awaiting deportation under the terms of the Immigration Act.
§ Dr. SummerskillOn 31st October 1977 there were no people aged under 17 being held in prison department establishments in England and Wales while their parents were in custody awaiting deportation under the Immigration Act, nor were any other people aged under 17 being held as non-criminal prisoners in connection with proceedings under the Immigration Act.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the longest time a woman has been held in custody while awaiting deportation 625W under the provisions of the Immigration Act; where she was held; and where she was deported.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe longest time spent awaiting deportation in prison department establishments in England and Wales by any of the women deported between 1st January 1977 and 15th November was 161 days. The woman concerned was held in Holloway Prison and Pucklechurch Remand Centre, and was deported to Mauritius. The delay in this case, which was exceptional, was due to the lodging of an appeal, subsequently withdrawn, and to the need to consider parallel representations on her behalf.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he considers it necessary to imprison persons awaiting deportation under the terms of the Immigration Act.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe most usual reason for a decision to detain a person who is subject to deportation proceedings are the risk that he or she may go to ground or be a danger to the public if left at liberty.