HL Deb 24 October 1990 vol 522 cc1517-8WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many asylum seekers are currently detained in (a) prisons and (b) detention centres or other institutions, and whether they specify the prisons now in use for this purpose.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

No central record is maintained of the number of people in detention under Immigration Act powers who have sought asylum. Under the terms of the Immigration (Places of Detention) Direction 1987 any prison may be used for the detention of persons under the Immigration Act.