§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average daily population of persons detained in prison department establishments under Immigration Act powers during 1985.
230W(2) what was the total separately identifiable cost of maintaining and running No. 10 Downing street from 1979 to 1985; and what steps she intends to take to curb future increases in this expenditure.
§ The Prime MinisterSince 1979 there have been a number of developments which have affected how the costs of Downing street are assessed, including:
- — Abolition of the CPRS in 1983, and the absorption of some of its staff within the No. 10 Policy Unit:
- — Introduction of charging for buildings and services by the PSA in 1983–84;
- — Introduction of charging for Service personnel at Chequers by the MOD in 1984–85;
- — Introduction of charging for aircraft by the Ministry of Defence in 1981–82;
- — and changes in the allocation of charges for the Government Car Service in 1984–85.
Column (a) represents the cost of Downing street and Chequers, excluding the grant in aid to the Chequers Trust, reflecting those changes. Column (b) gives the grant in aid to the Chequers Trust. Column (c) gives the total actual costs on a consistent basis excluding the effects of the changes referred to as far as it is possible to do so. Column (d) gives these costs at constant 1984–85 prices.
Billing delays prevent some costs from being shown in the financial year in which the goods and services were provided. The figures therefore do not necessarily reflect when the expenditure was actually incurred.
The 1986–87 grant-in-aid to the Chequers Trust is estimated at £224,000. All expenditure at 10 Downing street and Chequers is scrutinised rigorously to ensure that it is at the minimum level commensurate with the effective and efficient discharge of the responsibilities of my Office.
The cost given in column (a) for 1984–85 has been revised upward by £139,000 since I gave my answer to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher), Official Report 9 April, columns 112–13, in the light of fresh information about the precise allocation of costs.
§ Mr. WaddingtonIn 1985 the average population of persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971 in prison department establishments in England and Wales was 104.
§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average length of time spent in prison department establishments for persons detained under Immigration Act powers during 1985.
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§ Mr. WaddingtonThe average period of detention in prison department establishments in England and Wales of persons initially received under the Immigration Act 1971 powers who were discharged in 1985 was about four weeks.
§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give a breakdown by individual nationality of persons detained in prison department establishments under Immigration Act powers during 1985.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe readily available information is given in the following table; the collection of information on nationality is not yet completely satisfactory.
Receptions of persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971 into prison department establishments in England and Wales in 1985 by country of birth. Country of birth Number* United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man 2 Eire 14 Other Europe 52 West Indies† 13 India 91 Pakistan 85 Bangladesh 117 Sri Lanka 86 Hong Kong 14 Other Commonwealth countries in Asia and Oceania 10 Ghana 141 Nigeria 119 Other Commonwealth countries in Africa 18 Cyprus 23 Other Commonwealth countries 4 Algeria 20 Iran 21 Turkey 62 United States of America 15 Other countries‡ 152 Not recorded 7 All countries of birth 1,066 * The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost. † Includes other Commonwealth countries in the Americas. ‡ Countries for which 10 or fewer receptions were recorded.
§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were received into prison department establishments under Immigration Act powers during 1985, by individual prison establishment.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe readily available information is given in the following table:
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Receptions of persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971 into prison department establishments in England and Wales in 1985. Establishment Number* Remand centres Ashford 894 Brockhill 1 Cardiff 2 Exeter 2 Latchmere House 8 Low Newton 2 Manchester 5 Pucklechurch 4 Risley 21 Thorp Arch 3
Establishment Number* Prisons Bedford 9 Birmingham 28 Bristol 8 Brixton 1 Canterbury 15 Cardiff 3 Dorchester 1 Durham 5 Exeter 5 Holloway 15 Leeds 5 Leicester 6 Lincoln 3 Manchester 1 Norwich 6 Pentonville 2 Reading 1 Swansea 6 Winchester 3 Wormwood Scrubs 1 All prison department establishments 1,066 * The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.