HL Deb 05 February 2002 vol 631 cc79-80WA
Lord Chan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Zimbabwean asylum seekers are in prison in the United Kingdom; and when they are to be released; and [HL2539]

How many asylum seekers were being held in United Kingdom prisons on 1 January 2002; and when they were or will be moved out of prisons. [HL2540]

Lord Rooker

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary announced on 3 October that detainees held solely under Immigration Act powers would no longer be held in prisons by the end of January 2002. The temporary use of local prisons and the accommodation within HMP Rochester ended in mid-January. The detainees concerned were transferred to Immigration Service removal centres or to the dedicated immigration detention facilities at HMP Haslar and HMP Lindholme. The dedicated facilities at HMP Haslar and HMP Lindholme will become Immigration Service removal centres following their formal re-designation for this purpose on 8 February.

Table A
Place of detention Zimbabwean asylum seekers detained as at 30 September 20011
Dedicated Immigration Service wings2 25
Other prison establishments3 20
Total persons detained in prison establishments3 40
1Figures rounded to the nearest five, and may not sum due to rounding.
2Persons detained at the dedicated Immigration Service wings at Haslar, Lindholme and Rochester.
3Includes less than live persons detained under dual immigration and other powers.

Place of detention Asylum seekers detained as at 30 September 20011
Dedicated Immigration Service wings2 390
Other prison establishments3 460
Total persons detained in prison establishments3 850
1Figures rounded to the nearest five, and may not sum due to rounding.
2Persons detained at the dedicated Immigration Service wings at Haslar, Lindholme and Rochester.
3Includes 145 persons detained under dual immigration and other powers.