HC Deb 26 February 1991 vol 186 cc424-5W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently held on grounds of national security within the terms of the Immigration Act 1971.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

On 25 February, a total of 37 persons were detained following service of notice of deportation for reasons of national security.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I have today placed in the Library copies of the notes verbales exchanged between the British embassy and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those held on grounds of national security under the Immigration Act 1971 have(a) asked for their cases to be referred to an appeal but have not yet been heard, (b) had a hearing and their detention confirmed by himself and (c) been released following representation.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The information requested, as at 25 February, is:

  1. (a) 16 of those detained have applied to appear before the panel and have not yet done so—postponement has been on their own request in 12 cases);
  2. (b) 10 remain in detention following consideration of the panel's advice;
  3. (c) 18, of whom six were made subject to restriction orders, have been released from detention following consideration of representations and, where applicable, advice from the panel.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters of representation concerning those held under the Immigration Act 1971 he has received from(a) hon. Members and (b) the public; and how many of those who wrote to him he has met.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The subject matter of all correspondence is not recorded centrally and, as the representations received from hon. Members and from the public cover the general aspects of those detained and individual cases, the requested information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

On four specific cases of persons held under the Immigration Act following service of notices of deportation for reasons of national security, there have been two recent meetings with hon. Members.