HC Deb 19 November 1985 vol 87 cc132-3W
Ms. Clare Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions were given to the governor of Ashford remand centre regarding the delivery of Sikender Hyat to Heathrow on Saturday 26 October to be sent back to Pakistan; what information was given to his relatives; why he was not so delivered on that date; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waddington

Following the withdrawal of the hon. Member's representations, directions for Mr. Hyat's removal to Pakistan on 26 October were given by the immigration officer on 22 October. Immigration service records indicate that a request was passed on 22 October to the prison service at Ashford remand centre to take Mr. Hyat to Harmondsworth on the morning of 26 October. Relatives of Mr. Hyat were advised on 22 and 24 October of the removal directions and came to the airport to see him before his departure. There is no record at Ashford remand centre of the receipt of the request from the immigration service; no arrangements were made to convey Mr. Hyat and it was therefore not possible to remove him as directed. New directions were given for removal on 29 October, his relatives were advised and were able to see Mr. Hyat before his departure. Apologies were offered on 26 October by the immigration service to the relatives.

We very much regret this failure in communication between the staff at Ashford remand centre and those in the immigration service. Arrangements were in hand, before this incident occurred, to discuss ways to overcome the problems of communications which had already been identified. This work will now be taken forward to try to ensure that such a mistake does not occur again.