HC Deb 25 July 1983 vol 46 cc276-7W
Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the averge length of detention at the earliest convenient date for (a) all people detained under Immigration Act powers, (b) people detained as illegal entrants, (c) people recommended for deporting and subsequently deported and (d) people arrested as missing deportees and subsequently deported.

(2) what is the average daily population of Immigration Act detainees under the different categories.

Mr. Waddington

I regret that not all the information requested is available or could be obtained without disproportionate cost.

In 1982 the average daily population in prison department establishments in England and Wales of people detained under the Immigration Act 1971 was about 110. Most of those so detained are illegal entrants or people subject to deportation procedures.

The three principal immigration service detention units are at Harmondsworth, Queen's building Heathrow and Gatwick. In 1982 the average period for which detainees were held at Harmondsworth was less than two days and in the first six months of 1983 the average daily population of people held overnight in the three units was about 30. Those detained in the Units are in nearly all cases passengers seeking leave to enter, or refused leave to enter and awaiting removal.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of people received into Immigration Act detention during 1982 (a) in all places of detention and (b) in Her Majesty's remand centre, Ashford.

Mr. Waddington

During 1982 there were about 11,600 receptions into immigration service detention units in Great Britain of people detained under the Immigration Act 1971. During the same year the number of receptions into prison department establishments in England and Wales of people detained under the 1971 Act was about 960, of which about 700 were receptions into Ashford remand centre. Because some people may be transferred between one unit or esablishment and another there may be some double counting in these figures.