HC Deb 15 July 1998 vol 316 c190W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were being held in detention in England and Wales, pending the hearing of their asylum appeal on 6 July. [49527]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The available information is that, as at 30 June 1998, there were 166 men and 15 women detained solely under Immigration Act powers in the United Kingdom who had sought asylum at some stage and who were awaiting the hearing or determination of an appeal.

These figures are approximate because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large numbers of persons detained for only a short period.