§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to his Department of detaining persons under Immigration Act powers in immigration service detention centres, prison service establishments and police cells in 1995–96; and what amount of that cost was reclaimed from carrying companies during the same period. [35604]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe cost of detaining persons in immigration service detention centres and police cells under Immigration Act powers in the 1995–96 financial year was some £14.2 million. Of this, some £2 million was spent on police cells and the balance on the immigration service detention estate.
No charge is made to the immigration service for the use of Prison Service accommodation but the estimated notional cost of this for the same period is about £9 million.
The Immigration Act specifies certain conditions under which detention costs can be reclaimed from carriers and some £400,000 was reclaimed under these provisions in 1995–96.
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average weekly cost of detaining a person under Immigration Act powers in(a) an immigration service detention centre and (b) a Prison Service establishment. [35603]
§ Mr. KirkhopeFor the 1995–96 financial year, the average cost of detaining a person in a centre within the Immigration Service estate was about £560 per week. This figure includes the cost of administrative support from headquarters.
Persons detained under Immigration Act powers in Prison Service accommodation are normally housed separately in specially designated establishments, where the average cost per place in 1994–95 was £449 per week. This figure excludes headquarters costs.