HC Deb 16 May 1991 vol 191 cc239-40W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases since 1986 his Department has received written or oral representations from Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi directly or indirectly through the West Middlesex Immigration Service Ltd. in respect of applications for political asylum or applications concerning immigration; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Statistics of individual cases and representations by individual agents are not recorded. The information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the reports he has received from the Metropolitan police about Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi and West Middlesex Immigration Service Ltd.; when reports were received; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Since 26 November 1990 the police investigating the activities of Mr. Bedi and West Middlesex Immigration Service Ltd. have been in close and regular contact with the Home Office. Most of these exchanges have involved requests by the police for information, evidence and witness statements.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has information about any staff, or former staff, of the immigration and nationality

department, who have been retained, directly or indirectly, by West Middlesex Immigration Service Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I am not aware of any present or former member of the department's staff being so retained. If the hon. Member has information indicating that a member of the Home Office staff has been retained by this organisation, I should be grateful if he would bring it to my attention.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many official contacts there have been between his Department and Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi, (i) individually, (ii) representing the West Middlesex Immigration Service Ltd. or (iii) representing any other organisation.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Statistics of contact with individuals, individual agents, organisations or representatives are not recorded. The information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines have been issued to officials in the immigration and nationality department about Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi and West Middlesex Immigration Services Ltd.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

No general guidelines have been issued. But certain officials have been instructed to give the fullest co-operation to the Metropolitan and City police company fraud department in the conduct of their investigation into the activities of Mr. Bedi and this company.