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HOME DEPARTMENT

Open Prisons

Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are applied to assess the suitability of prisoners in an open prison for work carried out in the community as part of their rehabilitation. [1083]

Miss Widdecombe: Prisoners who are held in open prisoners are thoroughly assessed to ensure that they do not pose a risk to the public. Open prisons will allocate prisoners to work in the local community only when this is considered to be of benefit to both the community and to the prisoner. Particular attention is always paid to the offences committed by the prisoner and to his or her background as part of this process. The overriding concern in such allocation is always the safety of the public; if such concern exists, the prisoner does not undertake work in the community, and may be transferred to a closed and more secure prison.

Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures exist to assess a prisoner's suitability for transfer to an open prison; who is responsible for their implementation; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness. [1084]

Miss Widdecombe: Determinate sentence prisoners must be reallocated to the lowest security category before their transfer from a closed to an open prison. This involves an assessment of any risk posed to the public by the prisoner, together with the risk of escape or abscond. Such reallocation and transfer will take place only if the staff of the closed prison are satisfied that the prisoner is not a risk to the public and is not likely to escape or abscond. The prisoner will undergo a further risk assessment at the open prison to ensure that he or she is suitable for open conditions.

31 Oct 1996 : Column: 202

The governors of the closed prisons transferring prisoners to open prisons and the governors of the open prisons themselves are responsible for the implementation of these procedures.

Life sentence prisoners who are considered suitable for open conditions require both a favourable recommendation from the Parole Board and the authority of a Minister, who considers detailed reports on each individual case before making a decision.

The allocation of all prisoners to open conditions is kept under continual review.

Prisons

Mr. Chris Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all (a) planned new prisons and (b) detention centres to be financed through (i) public capital expenditure and (ii) the private finance initiative. [55]

Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Chris Davies, dated 31 October 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the planned number of new prisons and detention centres to be financed through public capital expenditure and the private finance initiative.

The Prison Service has plans to build prisons but not detention centres. Currently, it has funding to provide three new prisons and one re-built prison, all of which will be provided under the private finance initiative. These include Fazakerley, Bridgend and the re-built prison at Lowdham Grange. A third new prison is currently the subject of a planning inquiry, which if successful, will be built at Agecroft near Manchester.

Asylum Seekers

Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people who had applied at some stage for asylum were detained in Birmingham prison during (a) July, (b) August and (c) September; and what were the nationalities of those detained; [1037]

(2) how many people who had applied at some stage for asylum were deported from Birmingham prison during (a) July, (b) August and (c) September; and what were the nationalities of those deported. [1038]

Mr. Kirkhope: The available information on asylum seekers detained in Her Majesty's prison Birmingham is given in the table.

There were no failed asylum seekers recorded as being deported from Her Majesty's prison Birmingham during each of the months July to September 1996.

This does not include asylum seekers removed as illegal entrants.

31 Oct 1996 : Column: 203

Asylum seekers detained(5) at Her Majesty's prison Birmingham as at 31 July, 4 September and 1 October by nationality

Nationality	31 July	4 September	1 October
India	18	15	14
Nigeria	--	--	6
Algeria	5	5	4
Pakistan	--	3	--
Others(6)	4	3	2
Total	27	26	26

(5) Persons detained solely under the powers contained in schedules 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971. In some cases the asylum application will have been lodged subsequent to the applicant being detained. The figures include asylum applicants detained in after-entry enforcement work and those awaiting removal following refusal of asylum, as well as those whose applications were under consideration or subject to appeal.

(6) The "Others" category may include nationalities already listed.

Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to declare a country as one in which there has been a fundamental change of circumstances under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. [972]

Miss Widdecombe: My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to declare that any country has undergone a major upheaval such that we would not seek to return people there for the time being.

Dr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total number of asylum seekers held in detention at the end of (a) June, (b) July, (c) August and (d) September; in which establishments they were held; what were the nationalities of those detained; what were the gender of those detained; and how many were deported and from which establishments. [1044]

Mr. Kirkhope: The available information on asylum seekers detained, and on those deported from detention, is given in the tables. The number deported does not include those who are removed as illegal entrants or under port refusal procedures.

Number(7) of asylum detainees deported(8) during June, July, August and September

	Number of deported asylum detainees
June	11
July	6
August	7
September	3

(7) Provisional figures.

(8) Removed under the deport process, including those removed voluntarily prior to the initiation of deportation action.

Table 1: Number of people recorded as detailed on 17 June, 31 July, 4 September , and 1 October 1996(9) who sought asylum at some stage, by gender

Gender	As at 27 June	As at 31 July	As at 4 September	As at 1 October
Male	720	716	727	783
Female	52	60	82	81
Total	772	776	809	864

(9) These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

31 Oct 1996 : Column: 204

Table 2: Number of people recorded as detained on 27 June, 31 July, 4 September, and 1 October 1996(10) who had sought asylum at some stage, by location of detention

	As at	As at	As at	As at
	27 June	31 July	4 September	1 October
Prisons
HMP Rochester	154	146	148	154
HMP Haslar	99	112	107	97
HMP Birmingham	37	27	26	26
HMP Wormwood Scrubs	12	6	11	14
HMP Magilligan	8	7	7	7
HMP Manchester	2	--	6	5
HMP Bristol	6	3	4	4
HMP Wandsworth	4	6	2	3
HMP Greenock	5	5	6	3
HMP Holloway	--	--	--	2
HMP Doncaster	2	2	2	2
HMP Brixton	2	--	2	2
HMP Belmarsh	--	--	--	2
Other prison(11)	20	26	18	22
Other Places of Detention
Campsfield House	151	151	170	173
Tinsley House	45	68	96	119
Harmondsworth	102	89	82	91
Meadvale Buildings	36	35	33	38
Police Cells	27	33	35	33
Port	--	8	8	19
Queens Building	13	10	15	15
Dover Harbour	10	14	7	14
Manchester Airport Detention Suite	6	11	7	7
Other Place of Detention(11)	31	17	17	12
Total	772	776	809	864

(10) These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

(11) The 'Others' categories may include places of detention already listed.

Table 3: Number of people recorded as detained on 27 June, 31 July, 4 September, and 1 October 1996(12), who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality

Nationality	As at 27 June	As at 31 July	As at 4 September	As at 1 October
Nigeria	106	106	110	112
India	101	96	91	95
Algeria	75	70	65	63
Ghana	52	56	60	58
Sri Lanka	43	45	47	48
China Peoples Republic of	32	35	39	44
Zaire	38	43	48	44
Turkey	35	39	47	42
Columbia	15	11	10	35
Pakistan	25	35	35	34
Angola	16	16	18	23
Bangladesh	18	17	16	18
Romania	23	33	20	18
Cyprus	7	6	12	17
Gambia	27	16	16	16
Israel	--	--	--	15
Iran	11	9	11	13
Jamaica	5	8	8	10
Ethiopia	6	8	9	9
Yugoslavia	9	6	12	9
Russia	6	5	6	8
Sierra Leone	6	4	7	8
Uganda	4	3	4	8
Kenya	6	4	9	7
Liberia	4	5	9	7
Lithuania	5	4	4	7
Ivory Coast	6	7	7	6
Poland	6	8	6	5
Somalia	9	6	6	5
Equador	8	6	3	4
Lebanon	3	2	3	4
Sudan	3	--	4	4
Tanzania	4	4	3	4
Bulgaria	--	--	2	3
Egypt	2	2	2	3
El Salvador	--	--	3	3
Morocco	2	--	--	3
Albania	3	2	3	2
Nationality Doubtful(12)	6	10	8	11
Others(13)	45	49	46	39
Total	772	776	809	864

(12) These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

(13) The 'Others' category may include nationalities already listed.

31 Oct 1996 : Column: 205

Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the number of asylum seekers currently detained under Immigration Act powers by (i) nationality, (ii) gender, (iii) place of detention, (iv) length of detention and (v) immigration status at the time of application. [882]

Mr. Kirkhope: The information requested on detained asylum seekers is given in the tables.

Table 1: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 1996(14) who had sought asylum at some stage, by gender and immigration status

Gender	Port	Illegal entrants	Subject to deportation order	Total
Male	481	258	44	783
Female	62	14	5	81
Total	543	272	49	864

(14) These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

Table 2: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 1996(15) who had sought asylum at some stage, by stage of application and immigration status

Stage of application	Port	Illegal Entrants	Subject to deportation order	Total
Awaiting initial decision	157	53	8	218
Awaiting result of appeal	256	139	32	427
Awaiting removal after refusal	130	80	9	219
Total	543	272	49	864

(15) These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

31 Oct 1996 : Column: 206

Table 3: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 1996(16) who had sought asylum at some stage, by length of detention and immigration status

Length	Port	Illegal entrants	Subject to deportation order	Total
0-1 Month(16)	154	86	4	244
1-2 Months	84	56	14	154
2-6 Months	196	95	20	311
6-12 Months	90	25	6	121
12 Months +	19	10	5	34
Total	543	272	49	864

(16) These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

Table 4: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 1996(17) who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality and immigration status

Nationality	Port	Illegal entrants	Subject to deportation order	Total
Nigeria	73	26	13	112
India	20	69	6	95
Algeria	21	37	5	63
Ghana	40	16	2	58
Sri Lanka	30	17	1	48
China Peoples Rep of	35	9	0	44
Zaire	37	4	3	44
Turkey	34	7	1	42
Columbia	32	3	0	35
Pakistan	14	17	3	34
Angola	17	4	2	23
Bangladesh	9	8	1	18
Romania	4	14	0	18
Cyprus	17	0	0	17
Gambia	13	1	2	16
Israel	15	0	0	15
Iran	9	3	1	13
Jamaica	4	3	3	10
Ethiopia	5	3	1	9
Russia	3	5	0	8
Yugoslavia	5	4	0	9
Sierra Leone	5	2	1	8
Uganda	6	1	1	8
Kenya	5	2	0	7
Liberia	7	0	0	7
Lithuania	6	1	0	7
Ivory Coast	5	1	0	6
Poland	3	2	0	5
Somalia	5	0	0	5
Ecuador	4	0	0	4
Lebanon	2	2	0	4
Sudan	4	0	0	4
Tanzania	4	0	0	4
Bulgaria	2	1	0	3
Egypt	0	2	1	3
Morocco	1	1	1	3
El Salvador	3	0	0	3
Albania	2	0	0	2
Other	31	7	1	39
Nationality Doubtful	11	0	0	11
Total	543	272	49	864

(17) These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

31 Oct 1996 : Column: 207

Table 5: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 1996(18) who had sought asylum at some stage, by location of detention and immigration status

	Port	Illegal entrants	Subject to deportation order	Total
Prisons
HMP Rochester	97	43	14	154
HMP Haslar	54	38	5	97
HMP Birmingham	8	17	1	26
HMP Wormwood Scrubs	3	11	0	14
HMP Magilligan	0	7	0	7
HMP Manchester	0	5	0	5
HMP Bristol	0	4	0	4
HMP Wandsworth	0	1	2	3
HMP Greenock	0	3	0	3
HMP Holloway	1	0	1	2
HMP Doncaster	0	2	0	2
HMP Brixton	0	2	0	2
HMP Belmarsh	1	1	0	2
Other	13	5	4	22
Other Places of Detention
Campsfield House	116	48	9	173
Tinsley House	80	31	8	119
Harmondsworth	64	23	4	91
Meadvale Buildings	33	5	0	38
Police Cells	9	23	1	33
Port	19	0	0	19
Queens Building	15	0	0	15
Dover Harbour	14	0	0	14
Manchester Airport Detention Suite	4	3	0	7
Other	12	0	0	12
Total	543	272	49	864

(18) These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many substantive asylum appeals to immigration appellate authority special adjudicators have been (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed and (iii) withdrawn in 1996 to date. [884]

Mr. Kirkhope: Provisional information shows that, of the estimated 9,070 substantive asylum appeals determined by special adjudicators between January and September 1996, 3 per cent. were allowed, 81 per cent. were dismissed and 16 per cent. were withdrawn.

Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications are currently awaiting an initial decision by his Department's asylum directorate; and how many of these applications were made prior to July 1993. [885]

Mr. Kirkhope: As at 30 September 1996, there were 60,275 asylum applications awaiting an initial decision, of which an estimated 27,900 were made prior to the implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993. Work is currently in hand to revise this estimate.

Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements his Department has made to expedite initial decisions on asylum applications in those cases where the applicant is detained under Immigration Act powers; and what is the current average time taken by his Department to reach an initial decision in such cases. [887]

31 Oct 1996 : Column: 208

Mr. Kirkhope: Statistics on the average time taken to decide cases where the applicant is detained are not available. However, all such cases are given priority consideration within the asylum directorate, with many applications being determined within days.

Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average time currently taken by his Department to reach an initial decision on (i) asylum applications submitted prior to implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993, (ii) asylum applications submitted since implementation of the 1993 Act and (iii) all asylum applications; [889]

(2) what is the average time currently taken by the Home Office and the immigration appellate authority to prepare, hear and determine an appeal against a refusal to asylum. [890]

Mr. Kirkhope: Information on the times taken at the various stages of the asylum process are given in the table.

Average times involved in deciding applications for asylum (March-August 1996)

	Months
Time taken for an initial decision to be made (Pre-act applications)	44.8
Time taken for an initial decision to be made (Post-act applications)	11.6
Time taken by the Home Office to process an appeal	1.4
Time taken by the Immigration Appellate Authority to determine an appeal	8.1

Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to declaring Sri Lanka a country in which there has been a fundamental change of circumstances under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 following the upsurge of fighting in September. [974]

Miss Widdecombe: We do not believe that the continuing hostilities in Sri Lanka constitute such a fundamental change in the circumstances there as to justify my right hon. and learned Friend declaring that the country has undergone a major upheaval.

The hostilities since May 1995 have been sporadic and confined largely to the north and east of the country. Most reports suggest that conditions elsewhere in the country remain reasonably safe and normal.

Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to declaring Afghanistan a country in which there has been a fundamental change of circumstances under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 since the capture of Kabul by Taliban. [973]

Miss Widdecombe: We do not believe that the recent developments in Afghanistan constitute such a fundamental change in the circumstances as to justify my right hon. and learned Friend declaring that the country has undergone a major upheaval.

Afghanistan has been in a state of civil unrest for a number of years. The fall of Kabul to Taliban is part of this long-term continuing conflict.

31 Oct 1996 : Column: 209

Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons, having been refused asylum, have (i) been removed and (ii) made a voluntary departure from the United Kingdom in 1996 to date. [886]

Mr. Kirkhope: Provisional information shows that, during the period January to September 1996, there have been 2,810 removals--including voluntary departures--of persons refused asylum.

Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum, by persons applying (a) at a port of entry to the United Kingdom and (b) after entry have been decided in 1996 to date; and how many in each category have been granted (i) asylum and (ii) exceptional leave to remain. [888]

Mr. Kirkhope: The information requested is given in the table.

Decisions(19) on applications(19) received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, January to September 1996Number of principal applicants

	Applied at port	Applied in-country	Total
Asylum applications(20)	8,280	13,240	21,520
Decisions(21)	10,385	18,170	28,550
Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum	380	1,185	1,565
Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain(22)	1,430	2,160	3,595
Total refusals	8,575	14,820	23,395
Refused asylum and ELR after full consideration	7,610	13,245	20,855
Refused on safe third country grounds(23)	965	50	1,015
Refused on non-compliance grounds(24)	--	1,530	1,530

(19)Provisional figures rounded to the nearest five.

(20)Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.

(21)Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the period.

(22)Usually granted for a year in the first instance, subject then to further review.

(23)Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.

(24)Paragraph 340 of Immigration Rules. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview to establish identity.

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