Written question asked by Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour) on Wednesday, 31 January 2007.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 9 October (WA 52), what recommendations were made by the end of October regarding the legal requirement for prisoners to provide evidence of their nationality; what is the timetable for implementing these proposals; and what effect the proposals will have on the average length of time a foreign prisoner is held in custody following the end of his sentence.

Answer: An announcement will be made shortly on how this area of work is being taken forward. The Home Secretary made it clear that by spring of 2007 we will reach the position where the consideration of deportation for all foreign nationals will begin six months before the end of their sentences. We are making steady progress towards that as we deal with the backlog and the director-general of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate confirmed in December that deportation is now considered around two months before release in many cases. As progress is made in this area, we will be able to complete consideration and make arrangements for deportation in appropriate cases without the need to detain foreign national prisoners beyond their normal release date.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 689 c58-9WA; 541
Session: 2006-07
Related items: Immigration: Deportation
Monday, 9 October 2006
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Disclosure of information Deportation Foreign nationals Prisoners Nationality
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk