§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the instructions to Immigration and Nationality Directorate staff dealing with asylum applications. [52201]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI am pleased to announce that a copy of the Asylum Directorate's Instructions (ADIs) is being placed in the Library. The material is subject to periodic review and revision. We shall arrange to provide the Library with any necessary amendments or new instructions as they become available.
The ADIs contain internal guidance to staff on the handling of asylum and related casework. They are being made available in accordance with the principles of openness in the White Paper on Freedom of Information and in the existing Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. A small amount of material cannot be disclosed, either on grounds of national security or because disclosure would prejudice the effective operation of immigration controls.
As with the Immigration Directorates' Instructions (IDIs), this information will be made available on the Internet as soon as possible. Consideration is also being given to other suitable ways of making this information available and members of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's After Entry User Panel will be consulted about this.