§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many prisoners due for deportation were held in HM prisons after the expiry of their sentences, at the most recent date. [HL3063]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalInformation on the number of people who were detained in prison establishments awaiting deportation after completion of a criminal sentence is not available.
Work is ongoing to improve the quality of data held on those people detained under Immigration Act powers in Prison Service establishments.
§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What measures they are taking to improve co-operation between the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and the Prison Service. [HL3065]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Prison Service and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate are committed to improving the way they share information about immigration status of foreign national prisoners.
141WAThe two services are working closely together on the arrangements for the early removal scheme and have met monthly since December 2003 as part of this work. This will continue.
Improvements are being made to the systems for exchanging information and consideration is currently being given to the development of IT links between the two organisations. There are also plans to set up a joint Prison Service/Immigration Service liaison group as a forum to tackle and solve operational problems.