HL Deb 17 May 2000 vol 613 cc21-2WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many persons have been detained for longer than 24 hours in police and court cells in the Metropolitan Police area in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of them were Immigration Act detainees held for reasons other than early deportation. [HL2348]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

In response to the first part of the noble Lord's question I refer him to the written reply given by my noble friend Lord Bach on 2 May (Official Report, WA 152–53).

Regrettably, information on the number of Immigration Act detainees detained in Metropolitan Police cells during the last three years is available only at disproportionate cost through the examination of individual case records. It would not be possible from the records that are available to identify those detainees who were held for reasons other than early deportation.