We do not release in-year data ahead of the publication of our annual report and accounts until after the figures have been finalised, audited by the National Audit Office, and laid before Parliament.

The Home Office does not detain those who are stateless who cannot be removed to any other country.

We will only detain persons where they can be removed within a reasonable timeframe and issues regarding statelessness or nationality disputes are considered in assessing whether detention is appropriate.

The Government has no plans to provide detainees with advice on the possibility of applying to remain in the UK as a stateless person because those in detention are considered to be removable and as such admissible to another country for purposes of residence there.

All detainees are made aware of their right to legal representation, and how they can obtain such representation, within 24 hours of their arrival at an immigration removal centre (IRC). The Legal Aid Agency operates legal advice surgeries across the detention estate in England, with detainees receiving up to 30 minutes of advice without reference to financial eligibility or merits of their case. There is no restriction on the number of surgeries a detainee may attend. If a detainee requires substantive advice on a matter which is in scope of legal aid then full legal advice can be provided.

Detainees also have regulated access to the internet under the requirements set out in Detention Services Order DSO 04/2016 (Internet access). This enables them to independently identify contact details for immigration legal advisors and to make an application for Stateless Leave. Legal reference material is stocked in all IRC libraries and each IRC has a welfare officer who can signpost detainees to information on how to access legal advice.

The Government has no plans to introduce a fixed time limit on immigration detention as this would only encourage detainees to refuse to cooperate with immigration and asylum processes until they reached the point at which they had to be released from detention and thus avoid their enforced removal from the UK. Published Home Office policy is clear, however, that detention is only used for the shortest period necessary.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offender-management

The Home Office does not detain those who are stateless who cannot be removed to any other country.

We will only detain persons where they can be removed within a reasonable timeframe and issues regarding statelessness or nationality disputes are considered in assessing whether detention is appropriate.

The Government has no plans to provide detainees with advice on the possibility of applying to remain in the UK as a stateless person because those in detention are considered to be removable and as such admissible to another country for purposes of residence there.

All detainees are made aware of their right to legal representation, and how they can obtain such representation, within 24 hours of their arrival at an immigration removal centre (IRC). The Legal Aid Agency operates legal advice surgeries across the detention estate in England, with detainees receiving up to 30 minutes of advice without reference to financial eligibility or merits of their case. There is no restriction on the number of surgeries a detainee may attend. If a detainee requires substantive advice on a matter which is in scope of legal aid then full legal advice can be provided.

Detainees also have regulated access to the internet under the requirements set out in Detention Services Order DSO 04/2016 (Internet access). This enables them to independently identify contact details for immigration legal advisors and to make an application for Stateless Leave. Legal reference material is stocked in all IRC libraries and each IRC has a welfare officer who can signpost detainees to information on how to access legal advice.

I always listen to what the hon. Lady says on these issues. I have had discussions with the Immigration Minister, but if she would like to write to me in detail I am happy to take it up further.

Seriously unwell individuals continue to be placed in immigration detention, despite the “adults at risk” policy, which states that that should not happen. Will the Secretary of State update the House on what discussions are taking place with Home Office colleagues to ensure that assessment, treatment and screening processes, and the application of rule 35, are properly followed so that vulnerable individuals are not held in detention in that way?

Data on people held in immigration detention, broken down by place of detention, are published as at the last day of each quarter. Figures for 31 December 2017 will be released on 22 February 2018. The latest published figures for 30 September 2017 may be found in table dt_12_q of the detention tables in the latest release of ‘Immigration Statistics, July to September 2017’, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/662536/detention-jul-sep-2017-tables.ods

Although there is no fixed time limit on immigration detention in the UK, case law is clear that, to be lawful, detention must last no longer than is reasonably necessary to achieve the purpose for which it was authorised, must not be unduly prolonged and, in relation to removal, there must be a realistic prospect of removal within a reasonable period of time. Published Home Office policy is clear that detention must only be used for the shortest period necessary.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offender-management

It is important that criminal offences are reported to the police for investigation and that victims have access to justice. Where individuals involved in criminal cases have issues related to their immigration status, the Home Office will support the police, when asked to do so, by helping them to identify the persons concerned and establishing their status in the UK, and will consider any request from the police to place immigration enforcement action on hold in a particular case pending the resolution of criminal proceedings.

The police and the Home Office also work together to identify victims of modern slavery and refer victims to appropriate sources of support. Each individual immigration case is considered on its merits by the Home Office and any relevant circumstances will be taken into account in determining applications to remain in the UK. Those without lawful status in the UK should take steps to engage with the Home Office so that their case can be properly considered.

It is important that criminal offences are reported to the police for investigation and that victims have access to justice. Where individuals involved in criminal cases have issues related to their immigration status, the Home Office will support the police, when asked to do so, by helping them to identify the persons concerned and establishing their status in the UK, and will consider any request from the police to place immigration enforcement action on hold in a particular case pending the resolution of criminal proceedings.

The police and the Home Office also work together to identify victims of modern slavery and refer victims to appropriate sources of support. Each individual immigration case is considered on its merits by the Home Office and any relevant circumstances will be taken into account in determining applications to remain in the UK. Those without lawful status in the UK should take steps to engage with the Home Office so that their case can be properly considered.

Any death in immigration detention is subject to investigation by the police, the coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) and the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

In the period 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2017 there have been no deaths in immigration removal centres, or shortly after release, where a coroner has yet determined the cause of death to be self inflicted.

Staff at all immigration removal centres are trained to identify those at risk of self harm so that action can be taken to minimise the risk. All incidents of self harm are treated very seriously and every step is taken to prevent incidents of this nature. Formal risk assessments on initial detention and systems for raising concerns at any subsequent point feed into established self harm procedures in every IRC, which are in turn underpinned by the Home Office Operating Standard on the prevention of self-harm and Detention Services Order 06/2008 Assessment Care in Detention Teamwork (ACDT).

Information on incidents of self harm where the intent of the self harm attempt is suicide is not readily available from central statistical records and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Any death in immigration detention is subject to investigation by the police, the coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) and the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

In the period 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2017 there have been no deaths in immigration removal centres, or shortly after release, where a coroner has yet determined the cause of death to be self inflicted.

Staff at all immigration removal centres are trained to identify those at risk of self harm so that action can be taken to minimise the risk. All incidents of self harm are treated very seriously and every step is taken to prevent incidents of this nature. Formal risk assessments on initial detention and systems for raising concerns at any subsequent point feed into established self harm procedures in every IRC, which are in turn underpinned by the Home Office Operating Standard on the prevention of self-harm and Detention Services Order 06/2008 Assessment Care in Detention Teamwork (ACDT).

Information on incidents of self harm where the intent of the self harm attempt is suicide is not readily available from central statistical records and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

We recently consulted on standardising our approach to calculating local housing need. This calculation takes into account household projections.

These projections represent the most comprehensive, evidence based, understanding of future household formation, and accounts for a forecast fall in net migration.

Reasons for leaving detention by quarter may be found in table dt_06_q of the detention tables in the latest releases of ‘Immigration Statistics, July to September 2017’, available from the Home Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/662536/detention-jul-sep-2017-tables.ods