HC Deb 20 January 1997 vol 288 cc430-1W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently held in Her Majesty's prison establishments; and how many of them are accused of committing a crime. [11611]

Mr. Kirkhope

As at 11 December 1996, the latest date for which information is available, 292 persons who had sought asylum were detained in Prison Service establishments solely under Immigration Act powers. In addition to these, a further 121 asylum seekers were detained in prisons under powers other than, or in conjunction with, those contained in the Immigration Act 1971. Information on the number of these persons who are being held on criminal charges, as opposed to those serving a court imposed sentence, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.