HC Deb 23 January 1979 vol 961 cc82-3W
Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has established a means of monitoring the effects of the circular HOC 113/1978 issued to all courts on 13 July 1978 with regard to the powers to direct release following recommendations for deportation.

Mr. John

Existing records show the proportion of cases detained following recommendations by the courts. In the second half of 1978 the courts made 496 recommendations for deportation and detention followed in 128 cases. The corresponding figures for the first half of 1978 were 484 and 137. It is not possible to say to what extent this slight reduction in the proportion of detained cases is due to the issue of the Home Office circular.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions during the second, third and fourth quarters of 1978 he exercised his powers to detain people against whom a decision to make a deportation order under section 2(2) of schedule 3 to the Immigration Act had been made; and on how many such occasions (a) bail has been granted by the appellate authorities and (b) the decision to detain has been reversed.

Mr. John

Sixty-five detention orders were made during the last nine months of 1978 under paragraph 2(2) of schedule 3 to the Immigration Act 1971. I regret that the remaining information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in the latest period for which information is available his Department has agreed to supervise departures of non-patrials in place of deportation following recommendation by a court.

Mr. John

During 1978 there were 50 such supervised departures.