HC Deb 21 July 1987 vol 120 cc117-8W
Ms. Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the adequacy and standards of the facilities for women detainees on board the Earl William at Harwich;

(2) what is the number of (a) women and (b) men presently held on board the Earl William at Harwich.

Mr. Renton

Female detainees are accommodated in twin-bunk cabins, with integral showers, wash basins and toilets. The cabins are in a separate area of the ship from that of the male detainees. The public rooms, which are for the use of all detainees, provide ample space for relaxation and visits by relatives, friends and lawyers. The facilities on board include pay telephones, television and video, other recreational facilities, laundry and drying machines, hot and cold drinks machines and a shop.

As at 16 July there were eight women and 77 men detained on the Earl William.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were detained under Immigration Act powers for a period of more than two months on completion of a custodial sentence during 1986.

Mr. Renton

Nineteen persons who completed a custodial sentence in 1986 were so detained under deportation powers. I regret that similar information relating to illegal entrants is not available.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers were detained in prison department establishments under Immigration Act powers during 1986.

Mr. Renton

Until 1 May 1987 central records of passengers detained were kept only where detention under Immigration Act powers exceeded one month. The number of such cases detained in Prison Department establishments in 1986 was 104.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown by nationality of the number of passengers seeking political asylum who were detained under Immigration Act powers in 1986 (a) in prison department establishments and (b) in immigration detention accommodation.

Mr. Renton

Until 1 May 1987 central records of passengers detained were kept only where detention under Immigration Act powers exceeded one month. The details of these in 1986 were as follows:

Nationality Prison Department Establishments Immigration Service Detention Accommodation
Afghanistan 2
Albania 1
Angola 1
Chile 1 1
Ghana 1 2
India 3
Iran 19 12
Morocco 1
Pakistan 4 3

Nationality Prison Department Establishments Immigration Service Detention Accommodation
Somalia 1
South Africa 1
Sri Lanka 45 13
Tanzania 1
Turkey 2 2
Uganda 4 1
Nationality Doubtful 3 1

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide, for the latest convenient date, a breakdown by individual place of detention of the number of passengers seeking political asylum who are detained under Immigration Act powers.

Mr. Renton

Records of passengers detained are kept centrally only where detention under Immigration Act powers exceeds 14 days. On 1 July 1987 the total of these seeking political asylum was 147, who were detained at the following places:

Place of detention Number detained
Harmondsworth 36
Latchmere House 26
mv "Earl William" 80
HMP Pentonville 3
HMP Canterbury 1
HMP Winson Green 1