HC Deb 04 February 1980 vol 978 cc4-5W
Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were received into prison department establishments under Immigration Act powers during 1979; if he will list those who were persons (a) awaiting deportation for breach of conditions of leave to enter or remain, including overstayers, (b) awaiting deportation deemed conducive to the public good, (c) illegal entrants, (d) having been recommended for deportation by the courts and (e) having entered in breach of a deportation order; and how many person in each of these categories were in detention on 31 December 1979.

Mr. Brittain

Information is published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales"—for example table 1.1 of the issue for 1978, Cmnd. 7626—on receptions and the average daily population of all persons held under the Immigration Act 1971 in prison department establishments in England and Wales. Figures for 1979 are not yet available. Analyses of receptions or population in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained at prison department establishments under the Immigration Act 1971 as at 31 December 1979 (a) up to one month, (b) over one month and up to two months, (c) over two months and up to three months, (d) over three months and up to six months, (e) over six months and up to nine months, (f) over nine months and up to 12 months and (g) over 12 months.

Mr. Brittan

A breakdown in the form requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the longest period for which any non-criminal prisoner was held in custody under the Immigration Act on 31 December 1979.

Mr. Brittan

On 31 December 1979 the longest period for which a person had been detained in a prison department establishment in England and Wales under the Immigration Act 1971 was 270 days.