To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many foreign convicted prisoners in respect of whom the trial judge recommended that deportation be considered on release have been released from each prison establishment in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; in how many such cases the released prisoner was deported; and if he will make a statement. (67673)

[holding answer 3 May 2006]: I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to the most recent written ministerial statement of 23 May 2006, Official Report, column 77WS. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary set out in this statement the eight priority areas for management action to deliver our long- term agenda for change on radically improving the system for deporting foreign national prisoners. The sixth point deals specifically with the position in Scotland and Northern Ireland concerning foreign national prisoners. We shall update the House with our progress on this point shortly.