§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the compatibility of detention of refugees at Campsfield with the UN convention on refugees.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe Government are committed to their obligations under the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees, and the protocol to that convention, and are satisfied that United Kingdom legislation and practice do not breach these or other relevant international obligations.
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§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those who have been detained at Campsfield over the past 12 months have(a) been given permission to remain in the United Kingdom as political refugees and (b) been deported to their country of origin.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees in Campsfield have(a) died, (b) committed suicide and (c) attempted to commit suicide in the previous 12 months.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerNo detainee has died or committed suicide at Campsfield house since it opened in November 1993. During the same period, two detainees have attempted to commit suicide.
§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those who have been detained at Campsfield over the past 12 months have(a) applied for and (b) been granted bail.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if all the detainees at Campsfield have(a) been told in writing why they are being detained and (b) been given the right to challenge that information in civil court.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerAll immigration detainees at Campsfield house have been informed of the reasons for detention orally, in a language which they understand, with an interpreter present if necessary. They are entitled to challenge the lawfulness of their detention by applying for a writ of habeas corpus or by seeking judicial review.
I do not believe that any further written notification of the reasons for detention is necessary. All detainees are informed of their rights of appeal to the independent immigration appellate authorities, but the question of any legal challenge would be a matter for their representatives.
§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list(a) the nationalities, (b) the gender and (c) the age and the number of each nationality of all those currently detained at Campsfield detention centre;
(2) for how long the person who has been detained for the longest period of time has been in Campsfield detention centre;
(3) how many people are currently detained in Campsfield detention centre.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerOn 18 February 1995, 191 people were detained in the immigration detention centre, Campsfield house.
A breakdown by age is as follows:
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Number Under 18 0 18–20 4 21–30 102 31–40 67 41–50 18 Over 50 0 Total 191 A breakdown by nationalities and gender is as Follows:
Nationality Male Female Total Albania 3 — 3 Algeria 7 1 8 Angola 4 — 4 Bangladesh 6 — 6 Cameroon 2 — 2 China 4 — 4 Colombia 1 2 3 Cyprus 10 — 10 Ecuador 1 1 2 Ghana 17 7 24 India 13 1 14 Ivory Coast 1 2 3 Jamaica 1 3 4 Kenya — 3 3 Lebanon 1 — 1 Malaysia 1 — 1 Mauritius 1 — 1 Morocco 3 — 3 Niger 2 — 2 Nigeria 40 10 50 Pakistan 12 — 12 Philippines — 1 1 Romania 1 — 1 Senegal 2 — 2 Sierra Leone 1 2 3 Somalia 1 — 1 South Africa 1 — 1 Sri Lanka 2 — 2 Sudan — 1 1 Togo 1 — 1 Turkey 9 — 9 Uganda — 1 1 Yugoslavia (former) 2 — 2 Zaire 5 — 5 Nationality doubtful — 1 1 Total 155 36 191 The detainee who has been in Campsfield house for the longest period has been there since 5 March 1994.