HC Deb 12 April 1994 vol 241 cc3-4W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now publish details of the status of people held in detention centres under immigration law who are engaged in hunger strikes.

Mr. Charles Wardle

On 11 April, 20 people detained under Immigration Act powers were refusing meals. Eight were detained in Immigration Service detention and 12 in Prison Service accommodation, including Haslar. Of these 20, 16 were illegal entrants, and four were passengers subject to removal following refusal of leave to enter. Seventeen of the 20 had applied for asylum at some stage and their position was as follows:

Number
Asylum application under consideration 5
Appeals outstanding against refusal of asylum 10
Awaiting travel documents for removal 2

Of the remaining three non-asylum cases, two were subject to continuing inquiries and one was awaiting travel documentation to enable removal to be arranged.