§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) decisions to deport and (b) deportation orders were authorised in each quarter of 1988 to the latest available date; and how many people left the United Kingdom under supervised departure in each quarter of 1988 to the latest available date.
§ Mr. RentonThe available information is contained in table 14 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 38/88 "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Third Quarter 1988" which was published on 15 December.
§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate when, and under which statutory provision, he delegated his powers to issue notices of intention to deport persons, to issue restriction orders, to detain and to authorise supervised departures to officers of the immigration service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonExcept where specifically provided otherwise, it is well understood that powers conferred on a Minister by statute can be exercised on his behalf by his officials. The Immigration Act 1971 clearly distinguishes between the powers of the Secretary of State (including, therefore, officials acting on his behalf) and those of an immigration officer. Nevertheless, it is possible for the Secretary of State to delegate his powers to a senior member of his staff in the immigration service who is not, in his capacity as an immigration officer, involved in the case in question. Where potential deportees under section 3(5)(a) are traced by the immigration service, my right hon. Friend decided, on this basis, and with effect from 1 August 1988, to delegate his powers to issue a notice of intention to deport, to issue a restriction order, to detain. and to authorise supervised departure to members of the immmigration service at not less than inspector level.