§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what weekly financial allowances will be given to people held in prisons in England and Wales as a result of immigration irregularities. [145162]
§ Mr. BoatengAll those held in prison including immigration detainees receive money for participating in the regime of the prison. The scales of payment are a matter for each individual prison, subject to rules and a national minimum of £2.50 a week set by the Prison Service, which can be enhanced by participation in work, education or training.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women have been held in prison for immigration irregularities in prisons in England and Wales since 1 January. [145166]
§ Mr. BoatengThe requested information is not yet available. The most recent figures have therefore been provided. Provisional figures for 30 November 2000 show that there were 677 men and 22 women in prisons in England and Wales for immigration irregularities at that time. "Immigration Irregularities" have been taken to mean persons with an effective offence of assisting an illegal immigrant or being a deportee/detainee.