HC Deb 29 April 2004 vol 420 cc1294-5W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate official appointed to oversee all detained family cases. [164330]

Mr. Browne

Oversight of family cases involving children as part of the family is maintained by the Management of Detained Cases Unit within Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Their role includes reviewing the appropriateness of detention and ensuring that where detention is maintained that the cases are progressed expeditiously.

Any cases involving concern are referred at an early stage to the Immigration Service Director designated to oversee these cases. This Director also receives any information about welfare issues from those responsible for managing the Removal Centre Estate.

In particular, the Director reviews weekly, all cases involving the detention of families with children where detention might reach 28 days, before the period of detention reaches 28 days, together with reports on all cases already subject to ministerial authorisation. The Director decides whether it is appropriate to seek ministerial authority to maintain such detention.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last 12 months asylum seeker families with children have been detained for over 28 days. [164331]

Mr. Browne

Information on the number of occasions that families with children were detained under Immigration Act powers is not available.

Management information indicates that on 26 January 2004, 35 children were in detention who were detained solely under Immigration Act powers. Three-quarters of those had been in detention for 14 days or less and the remainder had been detained for less than four months. These individuals were all detained as part of families whose detention as a group was considered necessary.

Detention of all children beyond 28 days is now subject to ministerial authorisation.

Information on the number of people detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at 27 March 2004 will be published on the Home Office website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html) on 25 May.