§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have applied under the regularisation scheme set up under section 9 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; what their nationalities are; how many applications(a) have been granted, (b) have been refused and (c) are still pending; and how many applicants had been in the United Kingdom (i) more than and (ii) fewer than seven years at the time of application. [130535]
§ Mrs. RocheOn 13 July, the number of applications received under the regularisation scheme was 1,653. Approximately 175 of these applications have been granted. Most are awaiting substantive consideration. I regret that further information could be obtained only by examination of individual case records and is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in each of the last four years for which figures are available,(a) how many people were detained for more than 24 hours under immigration powers who (i) were and (ii) claimed to be under the age of 18 at the time of their detention, (b) what the average length of time was for which they were detained and (c) what the longest period of time was for which any such person was detained; [130734]
(2) in each of the last four years for which figures are available, (a) how many asylum applicants detained for more than 24 hours under immigration powers, were subsequently accepted to be under the age of 18 at the time of their detention, (b) what the average length of time was for which they were detained and (c) what the longest period was for which any such person was detained; [130735]
166W(3) in each of the last four years for which figures are available, (a) how many asylum applicants detained for more than 24 hours under immigration powers (i) were and (ii) claimed to be under the age of 18 at the time of their detention, (b) what was the average length of time for which they were detained and (c) what was the longest period of time for which any person was detained; [130738]
(4) in each of the last four years for which figures are available, (a) how many people were detained for more than 24 hours under immigration powers who were subsequently accepted to be under the age of 18 at the time of their detention, (b) what the average length of time was for which they were detained and (c) what the longest period was for which any such person was detained. [130733]
§ Mrs. RocheInformation on the age of persons detained under Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 powers is not held centrally. Nor is a central record kept of cases where age is disputed, whether or not the person is detained. The information requested is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.
Our policy, however, is that where we are satisfied a person is under 18 he or she should be detained only in very limited circumstances. The detention of minors using immigration powers is always regrettable. Unaccompanied children should never be detained other than in the most exceptional circumstances and then only overnight with appropriate care if they, for example, arrive alone at an airport. Where he or she cannot be cared for by responsible family or friends in the United Kingdom, an unaccompanied child should be placed in the care of the local authority while the circumstances of the case are determined.
Children are also sometimes cared for in detention facilities as part of a family unit in preference to separating them from their parents. In addition to existing facilities for detaining families, extra family accommodation has recently been made available at Oakington Reception Centre, where families may be held together for around seven days if it appears that their applications can be decided quickly. Occasionally, the detention of families is necessary to effect the removal of those who have no authority to remain in this country but who refuse to leave voluntarily. In such circumstances, detention should be planned to be effected as close to removal as possible so that families are not normally detained for more than a few days.
§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for each of the last four years for which figures are available,(a) how many persons under the age of 18 years have been detained with their parents in Tinsley House Reception Centre, (b) what was the average length of time for which they were detained and (c) how many of those persons were (i) 0 to 5, (ii) 6 to 11, (iii) 12 to 16 and (iv) 17 to 18 years old; [130737]
(2) how many persons under the age of 18 have been detained with their parents in Oakington Reception Centre since 20 March; and how many of those persons were (a) 0 to 5, (b) 6 to 11, (c) 12 to 16 and (d) 17 to 18 years old. [130736]
167W
§ Mrs. RocheI regret that the information held centrally on persons detained under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 powers at Tinsley House Detention Centre is available only in the form of a snapshot at a point in time. Nor is it possible to identify from these data the age of detainees. The information requested is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.
The most recent data available for persons detained at Oakington show that up to 2 July 2000, a total of 538 principal asylum applicants and 50 dependants of asylum seekers have been detained at various times since it opened on 20 March 2000. Oakington has accommodated family groups since 10 May 2000. A total of 36 children have been accommodated with one or both of their parents in dedicated family accommodation up to 2 July 2000. Further information regarding the age ranges of the children is available only at disproportionate cost.