HC Deb 14 December 1993 vol 234 cc530-1W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many children aged under 18 years have accompanied a parent being deported from the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available; and what ages those children were;

(2) how many people, accompanied by how many children, were deported from this country in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of each of these categories received appropriate immunisations for the country to which they were travelling.

Mr. Charles Wardle

In the 12 months to June 1993, about 2,600 people were removed under deportation powers. The other information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 7 December,Official Report, column 171, what arrangements are made for immunisation to be provided for any deportee who requests it; and what steps his Department takes to inform deportees that they and any children accompanying them are entitled to the appropriate immunisations recommended for the country to which they are travelling.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Where the deportee is detained, vaccinations would be provided, if requested, by the qualified medical staff employed at the place of detention. Otherwise, the deportee would be advised to consult his or her general practitioner.

There are no formal arrangements for the Department to advise deportees about immunisation, but any relevant advice given by the agency issuing travel tickets would be passed on.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what proportion of deportations in the last year for which figures are available(a) a private security firm, (b) more than one private security firm, (c) the police and (d) police and a private security firm were used;

(2) what was the total cost of employing private security firms to participate in deportations from the United Kingdom in (a) 1979, (b) 1985 and (c) the last year for which figures are available;

(3) in what proportion of deportations in the last year for which figures are available were (a) handcuffs, (b) luggage tape, (c) bodybelts and (d) other forms of restraint used; and in each case who authorised the use of such restraints.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The information requested is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the(a) average, (b) highest and (c) lowest cost to public funds of a deportation from the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available.

Mr. Charles Wardle

I will write to the hon. Member with the available information.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department during how many deportations in the last year for which figures are available drugs have been offered to deportees; in what proportion of those cases the drugs were accepted; what were the drugs involved; if they were administered under the guidance of a qualified medical officer; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It is, however, not normal practice for drugs to be offered or administered to deportees.