§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons awaiting deportation in 1998 were detained in Scottish prisons; and what was the average length of such detentions. [85567]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe average number of people detained at any one time in Scottish prisons solely under Immigration Act powers last year was in the range of 20 to 25. Consolidated records are not kept, neither do our records distinguish between detainees who are liable to deportation and those liable to removal as illegal entrants or having been refused entry at a port. This information, together with the average length of detention, could be established only by reference to each individual case record.