§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of people held in prisons in England and Wales for immigration offences as of 1 June. [32464]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 17 June 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of people held in prisons in England and Wales for immigration offences as of 1 June.The available information is for 30 April 1996. On that date. 536 persons were detained under Immigration Act powers in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.