HC Deb 16 October 1995 vol 264 cc61-3W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the number of(a) men and (b) women from the Ivory Coast who are being held in prisons in England and Wales while they are awaiting decisions on their application for political asylum, as of 17 July; [36113]

(2) what was the number of (a) men and (b) women being held in prisons in England and Wales while their application for political asylum was being considered as of 17 July; [36115]

(3) what has been the longest time (a) a man and (b) a woman has been held in a prison in England and Wales while awaiting a decision on their application for political asylum as of 17 July. [36117]

Miss Widdecombe

Information as at 17 July 1995 is not available. However, as at 19 July 1995, 53 men and one woman were awaiting initial decisions on their applications for asylum whilst being detained in prison service establishments. Of these, the longest time a male and female have ben held in detention is 348 days and 114 days respectively.

No nationals of the Ivory Coast were detained in prison service establishments as at 19 July 1995.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department has taken to ensure that failed asylum seekers cannot be identified on their return home. [35826]

Mr. Nicholas Baker

Asylum applications are treated as confidential. Where a failed asylum applicant is returned to his country of origin, the fact that he claimed asylum is not disclosed to the authorities of that country.

Mr. Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy regarding access of foreign embassy personnel to visit asylum seekers held in detention centres and prison establishments. [35825]

Mr. Baker

Foreign embassy and high commission personnel are allowed to visit an asylum applicant in detention only if he or she specifically requests or consents to a visit.

Mr. Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what circumstances his Department gives the names of the asylum seekers in detention, awaiting removal orders, to their embassies. [35827]

Mr. Baker

An embassy or high commission will not be notified of the detention of an asylum applicant without the consent of the person concerned. When it is necessary to provide an embassy or high commission with a person's details in order to obtain a travel document, the fact that asylum has been sought is not disclosed.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice is given to asylum applicants from Sri Lanka. [35960]

Mr. Baker

All asylum applicants are given details of organisations to which they may turn for legal advice in pursuing their asylum claims.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Sri Lanka in determining his policy on asylum; and to what extent this has changed in the last six months. [35962]

Mr. Baker

We keep the situation under continuing review in the light of information from a variety of sources, including the United Kingdom's high commission in Colombo and reports by independent organisations such as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sri Lankan asylum applicants have been sent back to Sri Lanka in the last six months. [35961]

Mr. Baker

During the period 1 January to 30 June 1995, 13 Sri Lankans refused asylum and exceptional leave to remain after full consideration have been returned to Sri Lanka.