§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information and evidence available to immigration officers at United Kingdom ports of entry when considering the bona fides of intending visitors from Pakistan will not be available to entry clearance officers in Pakistan.
§ Mr. WaddingtonInformation from official records here is available to entry clearance officers abroad, though less readily than to immigration officers at United Kingdom ports. Entry clearance officers consider all evidence submitted by or obtained from applicants. The Immigration Act 1971 gives immigration officers, but not entry clearance officers, powers to search and to examine documents found on search.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from (a) Bangladesh, (b) Pakistan, (c) India, (d) Ghana and (e) Nigeria have been held at West Laingeton detention centre; and why they have been forced to wear prison clothing.
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§ Mr. WaddingtonThe information relates to passengers from the five countries detained in HM detention centre, Blantyre house, Cranbrook and Erlestoke youth custody centre, Lavington, Devizes, and at midnight 2 November, was as follows:
Nationality Number detained Bangladesh 43 Ghana 1 India 15 Nigeria 0 Pakistan 3 Persons detained at these establishments under the Immigration Act 1971 are not required to wear prison clothing.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of applicants for (a) entry clearance and (b) visas from (i) India, (ii) Bangladesh, (iii) Pakistan, (iv) Ghana and (v) Nigeria as of 30 October, or the nearest date available; and what is the equivalent figure for entry clearance for the same date in 1985 and 1984.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe latest complete information currently available centrally on entry clearance applications outstanding in the Indian sub-continent relates to end June 1986 and is given in the table. Corresponding information for Ghana and Nigeria is not available. Citizens of these countries whose application is granted are issued with an entry certificate or visa, depending on the requirements in operation at the time of issue.
Persons awaiting a decision on their application for entry clearance1 to the United Kingdom Number of persons Country End June 1984 End June 1985 End June 1986 India 3,500 3,000 3,500 Bangladesh 12,800 12,700 10,100 Pakistan 7,300 7,300 7,500 1 Including both applications for settlement and for temporary purposes.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made for (a) dietary needs, (b) child care and (c) translation for arrivals at all entry ports in the United Kingdom; and if he will publish the instruction for guidance notes issued by his Department to the immigration service.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe information given relates to those detention centres for which the immigration service is responsible. The dietary needs of detainees are as far as possible met by the wide range of meals available. Children are not normally detained unless accompanied by one or both parents, or a female relative; when a child is detained a female member of staff is always in attendance. House rules setting out the domestic arrangements are prominently displayed in a variety of languages in each centre. Arrangements are well advanced to increase the range of translations and to issue individual copies to all detainees. A copy of the code of practice covering standards for immigration detention centres has already been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people arriving in the United 534W Kingdom from (a) India, (b) Bangladesh, (c) Pakistan, (d) Ghana and (e) Nigeria since 1 October who tried to enter as visitors were subsequently returned despite hon. Members' requests that they not be sent back.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThose referred to in the reply given to the question by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 27 October, except that four passengers, not five, were sent back on 19 October when a right hon. or hon. Member had expressed an interest in the case prior to a decision to refuse entry. All the passengers concerned were from Bangladesh.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visitors from (a) India, (b) Bangladesh, (c) Pakistan, (d) Ghana and (e) Nigeria have been (i) held and (ii) are still being held by the Immigration Service since 1 October.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe information readily available relates to passengers of the five nationalities detained at midnight on 2 November in immigration service detention centres at Gatwick, Heathrow and Harmondsworth, HM detention centre, Blantyre house and Erlestoke youth custody centre:
Nationality Number Currently detained Bangladesh 47 Ghana 6 India 18 Nigeria 4 Pakistan 6