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Written question asked by Nusrat Ghani (Conservative) on Wednesday, 29 March 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 April 2017. It was answered by Robert Goodwill (Conservative) on Tuesday, 18 April 2017 on behalf of the Home Office.

Migrants: Detainees

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women recorded as pregnant have been held in immigration detention since the Immigration Act 2016 came into force; and how many of those women left detention to be removed from the UK.

Answer

Through section 60 of the Immigration Act 2016, which came into force on 12 July 2016, we have placed a 72 hour limit on the detention of pregnant women for the purposes of removal, extendable to up to a week in total with Ministerial authorisation.

It may not always be appropriate for healthcare professionals to disclose confidential medical information that the patient has asked not to be disclosed. Subject to these limitations, Home Office management information indicates that 27 pregnant women were detained in the immigration detention estate between 12 July 2016 and 31 December 2016. This resulted in 5 pregnant women being removed from the UK.

The section 60 limitations, along with a new policy on adults at risk in detention, and other improvements to caseworking processes, represent a comprehensive package of safeguards for pregnant women in the immigration system.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
69792
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Detainees Deportation Migrants Pregnancy
Legislation
Immigration Act 2016
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk