To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 30 June, Official Report, column 11, how many in-country asylum applicants were detained under Immigration Act powers for one night or longer in (a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [8926]

I regret that reliable information on the number of in-country asylum applicants placed in detention for one night or longer could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.