Detention (Hansard, 24 January 1991)

§ Mr. Blunkett
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what statutory authority residents of Arabic or Palestinian origin are being arrested or detained, arising from the war in Iraq; what source of information led to arrest; whether these detainees have been questioned on these allegations; and if he will make a statement;
(2) on what basis residents of Arabic and Palestinian origin are being arrested or detained arising from the war in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Wilson
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what rights of representation have been accorded to persons detained without charge or trial in response to the war in the Gulf;
(2) what criteria applied to the recent arrest and detention of individuals currently resident in the United Kingdom without charge; and what is the authority under which they are held.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
By virtue of section 3(5) (b) of the Immigration Act 1971 orders of intention to deport have been served on a number of Iraqi and other nationals on my right hon. Friend's personal direction that their deportation would be conducive to the public good for reasons of national security. These decisions have been taken individually after careful consideration of information about the activities and associations of those concerned and in the light of the present threat of terrorist activities against the United Kingdom.
Under section 15(3) of the Act there is no statutory right of appeal against these decisions. Paragraph 157 of the statement of changes in the immigration rules, however, provides that those concerned may appear before a panel of independent advisers and make representations to them before the advisers tender their advice to my right hon. Friend. If it is decided to make a deportation order, they also have a right of appeal to the immigration appellate authorities against the destination specified. Under paragraph 2(2) of schedule 3 to the Act persons may be detained on my right hon. Friend's authority pending deportation.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of people detained under powers given to him under the Immigration Act 1971 who are holders of(a) Iraqi passports, (b) 301W Jordanian passports, (c) Israeli passports, (d) UN travel documents and (e) other passports since 1 January; how many are in (i) prisons and (ii) police stations; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Wilson
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by nationality, what are the numbers of persons arrested and detained without charge or trial in response to the war in the Gulf.

§ Mr. Blunkett
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many non-Iraqi Arabic or Palestinian residents in Britain have been arrested or detained over the last two weeks; from what parts of the United Kingdom they have been taken; how long they have been held; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many residents of Iraqi origin have been arrested or detained in the last fortnight; from what areas of the United Kingdom they originated, and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Since August 1990, 160 Iraqi and 12 other nationals living in England, Scotland and Wales have been served with notice of intention to deport them from the United Kingdom on the grounds that their deportation would be conducive to the public good for reasons of national security. Fifteen Iraqis left for Jordan on 23 January and about half these individuals have now left the country before deportation orders were made. At 1030 hours on 23 January 47 Iraqis, four Lebanese, three Jordanians, one Yemeni and one naturalised United State's citizen were in detention in prisons, having been detained between 15 and 18 January; 31 Iraqis were detained in police cells having been detained on 22 January and 23 January. Additionally, two Iraqis detained had been identified as serving military personnel and transferred to military custody as prisoners of war.
Those detained have been advised of their right to make representations to the advisory panel and the majority have already done so. The decision to deport and to detain will be kept under review in the light of any representations which they may wish to make.

§ Mr. Blunkett
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Ali El Salem, of 69 Hamble road, Bedford, has been detained and considered for deportation; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has decided that Mr. El Salem should be served with notice of intention to deport him from the United Kingdom on the grounds that his deportation would be conducive to the public good for reason of national security. He has been detained pending any representations which he may wish to make as to why he should not be deported. He may, if he wishes, appear before an independent advisory panel and make representations to it before it tenders its advice to my right hon. Friend. If it is decided to make a deportation order he will have a right of appeal against destination to the independent immigration authorities.

Mr. Mullins
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list Iraqi nationals resident in Sunderland who have been detained within the last 10 days; and what decisions have been taken about their future in each case.
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§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Three Iraqi nationals resident in Sunderland have been detained in the past 10 days pending deportation on grounds of national security. I am not prepared to comment on individual cases.