Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the current establishment of the detention planning and policy unit within the Home Office immigration and nationality department; and if he will make a statement regarding the function of this unit. [24828]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe immigration service detention policy and planning unit employs a total of some 53 staff including those engaged in detention centres at Campsfield house, nine; Gatwick airport, four; and Harmondsworth, 25, where the staff also have national responsibility for co-ordination of the use of detention places.
The detention policy and planning unit is responsible for ensuring the provision of detention accommodation and escorting services including all commercial, financial and contractual matters and for co-ordinating policy, procedures and practice relating to all aspects of immigration detention management.
Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost in the financial year 1993–94 to his Department of detaining persons under the Immigration Act powers in(a) immigration detention centres, (b) Prison Service establishments and (c) police cells. [24855]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe total cost to the immigration service in running its detention accommodation in the financial year 1993–94 was £7,466,352. No separate figures for detaining persons under Immigration Act powers are kept by the Prison Service. The cost of detaining persons under the Act in police cells was £430,152.27.
Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current(a) weekly and (b) monthly cost of detaining persons under Immigration Act powers in (a) an immigration detention centre and (b) a Prison Service establishment. [24854]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe overall cost of detaining a person in accommodation for which the immigration service is responsible is currently estimated at £540 per week, including full immigration service staffing costs. This would equate to £2,340 per month. The current cost of detaining someone in a Prison Service establishment is not available. The latest available figures are for the year 1993–94, which show a cost of £411 a week or £1,780 per month, excluding headquarters costs. In many cases, the carrying company which brought the person to the United Kingdom is liable for all or some the expenses incurred. Therefore, the whole cost does not fall to the taxpayer.