§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to create a dedicated immigration centre in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [138881]
§ Mrs. RocheThe number of persons in Northern Ireland who are detained under the Immigration Act 1971 has always been small. Such detainees are detained in Magilligan or Maghaberry Prison. The Immigration Service and the Northern Ireland Prison Service recognise the difficulties of using prisons for people detained under the Immigration Act and are currently undertaking a joint review of future provision of detention facilities in Northern Ireland. The review's conclusions are expected by the end of the year and the Government will make its decisions public. However, given the small number of persons detained, it seems most unlikely that a dedicated detention facility in Northern Ireland will be viable on cost or efficiency grounds.