HC Deb 14 January 1999 vol 323 cc276-7W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants who arrived at Dover Ferry Port have been granted political asylum in each of the last 12 months. [64752]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The available information on the numbers of persons granted asylum in the 12 months from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 who had been issued with notice of illegal entry by immigration officials at Dover is given in the table.

Persons granted asylum in the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 who had been issued with notice of illegal entry by immigration officials at Dover
Date Number of persons
July 1997 0
August 1997 1
September 1997 1
October 1997 1
November 1997 1
December 1997 1
January 1998 1
February 1998 1
March 1998 3
April 1998 0
May 1998 1
June 1998 6
1Represents 1 or 2

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants are currently being detained who arrived at Plymouth Ferry Port; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the last six months. [64756]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The available information is that, as at 7 January 1999, no more than two persons who had been served with a notice of illegal entry by immigration officials at Plymouth were detained solely under immigration Act powers. Information relating to the previous six months could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants who arrived at Poole Ferry Port have been refused entry and removed from the UK within seven days of arrival in each of the last 12 months. [64751]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The available information on the numbers of persons removed or departing voluntarily within seven days of being issued with a notice of illegal entry by immigration officials at Poole, between 1 July 1997 and 30 June 1998 is given in the table.

Persons removed or departing voluntarily within 7 days of being issued with a notice of illegal entry by immigration officials at Poole, 1 July 1997 and to 30 June 1998
Number of persons
July 1997 1
August 1997 0
September 1997 0
October 1997 4
November 1997 1
December 1997 0
January 1998 0
February 1998 0
March 1998 0
April 1998 0
May 1998 0
June 1998 0
1represents 1 or 2

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of the former Yugoslavia are currently being detained in the UK as illegal immigrants; and what the figures were in each of the last three years. [65297]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

I will write to the hon. Member.