HC Deb 19 October 1992 vol 212 cc54-5W
Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest position over the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service and its replacement; if the UKIAS staff and offices have been retained; if he will name the members of the replacement committee and where appropriate the organisations they represent; what arrangements have been made for the election of an executive of the new body; what funding it will receive from the Government; and what response has been made by the UKIAS staff to the replacement committee.

Mr. Charles Wardle

I announced in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) on 8 July, column 202–3, that Mr. Humfrey Malins had been invited to lead a planning group outside Government to draw up proposals for a new voluntary body to take over UK IAS's general immigration work and in due course to establish such a body. The members of the group are Baroness Flather, Mr. Alf Dubs, Dr. Z. U. Khan and Ms. Rachel Pickavance. All have been invited to participate as individuals, not as representatives of particular organisations. The planning group hopes by the end of the year to put forward recommendations on the constitution and structure of the new organisation. The group would welcome views from any interested party.

On 24 July UKIAS appointed a standing executive committee, separate from the previous executive committee, to administer the organisation while the planning group does its work. This is chaired by the Reverend David Haslam of the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland and the members are Mr. Navnit Dholakia of the Commission for Racial Equality, Mrs. Helen Ellis of the Kent Committee for the Welfare of Migrants. Mr. Bob Purkiss of the Trade Union Congress and Mrs. Sabiha Shahzad of the National Association of Race Equality Councils. In addition, Mr. Victor Kasinathan is the treasurer and Mr. Andrew Puddephat of Liberty is a co-opted member. The Government are providing funds on a monthly basis so that UKIAS's staff, working from the existing offices, can continue to provide advice and representation for appellants until the successor body is established.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to continue the services currently offered by UKIAS.

Mr. Charles Wardle

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) on 8 July,Official Report, column 202–3.