§ Lord Eamesasked her Majesty's Government:
How many people applied for asylum in Northern Ireland in 1999: and how many were granted that status. [HL1163]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonInformation on the number of people applying for asylum in Northern Ireland and how many were granted that status is not separately identifiable within the statistics. The available information relates to total applications for asylum in the United Kingdom and those granted that status and can be accessed via the Internet at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm
§ Lord Eamesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to seek the provision of suitable acommodation for those seeking asylum in Northern Ireland who are at present detained in Magilligan or Magheberry Prisons. [HL1164]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe number of persons in Norther Ireland who are seeking asylum and who are detained has always been small. The normal course of action has been to grant temporary admission or bail while their claim is under consideration. The Government have no plans to change this arrangement Because of the small number involved, the Government do not believe that a dedicated detention facility in Northern Ireland would be viable on cost or efficiency grounds. There are also considerable practical difficulties in segregating immigration detainees from prisoners at Magheberry and Magilligan. However, the Home Office and the Northern Ireland Prison Service recognise the difficulties of using prisons for people detained under the Immigration Act 1971 and plan to undertake a joint review of future provision of detention facilities in Northern Ireland. A meeting between the Immigration Service and the Northern Ireland Prison Service is scheduled to take place on 9 March.