§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many asylum seekers are currently being detained; and
How many asylum seekers had been detained for a year or more at the end of 1996.
§ Baroness BlatchAs at 11th December 1996, a total of 754 persons, who had sought asylum at some stage, were detained, of whom 30 had been in detention for a year or more.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have plans to reduce the average period of detention for asylum seekers.
§ Baroness BlatchDetention for asylum seekers is used only very sparingly, and for the shortest possible periods. Detention is often extended as a result of factors beyond our control—for example, legal action taken on behalf of detainees or the provision of documents from receiving countries.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied that their proposal to detain asylum seekers on a ship in Portland Harbour will comply with the principles adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1988 for the Protection of All Persons Under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment.
§ Baroness BlatchThe Government have no present plans to use a ship for the detention of asylum seekers.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the reasons for detaining asylum seekers and how they ensure that such detention is used sparingly.
§ Baroness BlatchThe Immigration Service only uses detention where there is no alternative and where there are good grounds for believing that the person will not comply with any conditions of temporary admission. At any one time, only about 1 per cent. of asylum seekers are held in detention and the great majority of these will have had their applications refused. The new Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 strengthens asylum procedures so that unfounded asylum claims and appeals can be determined more quickly.
Each person's detention is subject to regular review at increasingly senior levels within the Immigration Service. In addition, under the provisions contained in the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, all detainees, with certain limited exceptions, may now apply to the independent appellate authorities for bail. Detention may also be challenged in the courts.
6WA
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the conditions in which asylum seekers are being detained at Rochester Prison and for how long each of them has been detained.
§ Baroness BlatchImmigration detainees are held within the Detainee Centre at Rochester Prison. This comprises two dedicated separate wings. There are excellent physical education and library facilities, and all detainees have the opportunity for work or education and free association. All the varying dietary requirements are catered for. There is a well equipped hospital wing and detainees have access to medical care comparable to that which would be provided by a general practitioner to a member of the public.
As of 3rd February, 174 detainees were held in Rochester Detainees Centre, of whom 139 are asylum seekers. The breakdown of the duration of their detention under immigration powers is:
Less than 1 month: 31
1–2 months: 17
2–3 months: 20
3–6 months: 27
6–12 months: 35
12 months or more: 9