HL Deb 19 February 2001 vol 622 c71WA
Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many asylum seekers have been detained in Oakington since it was opened for that purpose; and, since those merely seeking asylum in the United Kingdom are not imprisoned, what were the further reasons given for their detention there. [HL692]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

As of 2 February, 3,583 principal asylum seekers have been referred to Oakington Reception Centre in Cambridgeshire since its opening on 20 March 2000. Applicants are detained at Oakington if it appears to the immigration officer that their application is capable of being dealt with quickly and there are no other factors which make the application unsuitable for consideration at Oakington.