§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the maximum, average and median number of days spent in detention by persons held under the Immigration Acts, in each of the last three years; what was the total of persons detained each year; and how many of these were asylum-seekers whose cases had not been decided. [HL4179]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonInformation on persons detained under Immigration Act powers is recorded centrally as a snapshot, at a point in time but not as flows through periods of time. I regret, therefore, that the information requested is only available at disproportionate cost.
The latest available snapshot of all persons held in detention solely under Immigration Act powers in immigration detention centres or prisons in the United Kingdom is that 936 such persons were detained as at 31 August 1999. That figure excludes persons held under Immigration Act powers in police cells other than at Dover. This snapshot does not separately identify those detainees who are asylum-seekers.