asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the numbers of Sri Lankan Tamils who have arrived at United Kingdom ports on a month by month basis since January 1986 to the latest available date.

Information in the form requested is not available. In particular, the ethnic origin of arriving passengers is not recorded. The table below gives the total number of Sri Lankan citizens admitted to the United Kingdom in each month from January to September 1986, the latest date for which this information is currently available. The figures exclude those granted temporary admission while subject to further consideration or investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the daily cost to public funds of looking after (a) the 58 Tamils claiming refugee status and (b) the six to whom limited rights of stay have been granted.

I will reply as soon as possible.Miss Boothroyd asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the numbers of Sri Lankan Tamils held in detention centres in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement as to the intentions of Her Majesty's Government in relation to these detainees.

The ethnic origin of those detained under powers in the Immigration Act 1971 is not recorded. The available information, which is given in the table, relates to those of Sri Lankan nationality detained at the establishments listed overnight on 14–15 February 1987 and may include passengers detained pending further examination or following refusal of entry, illegal entrants and persons to be deported.All cases involving detention are reviewed to ensure that it is kept to a minimum.