§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, on average, were employed in the EC group of the Immigration and Nationality Department between 1 February 1997 and 31 January 1998. [72863]
§ Kate HoeyThe number of staff in post for each month from February 1997 to December 1998 is given in the table. Responsibility for EC casework was transferred from EC group of the European Directorate to the Integrated Casework Directorate in December 1998.
European Directorate (EC group) monthly staff in post Month 1997 1998 January — 28 February 22 28 March 21 28 April 23 28 May 23 28 June 23 28 July 23 28 August 23 28 September 23 28 October 23 29 November 27 27 December 27 0
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters sent to the Immigration and Nationality Department by special and recorded delivery in the last six months have not yet been opened. [72859]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThere are currently 4,730 items of recorded and registered post to be opened in the Integrated Caseworking Directorate Mail Handling Section. The earliest date of unopened post is 9 February 1999. There are a further 507 items to be opened in the Travel Documents Section. The earliest date of unopened post is 3 February 1999. Despite the disruption caused by the move of offices, the backlog on post opening should reduce further in the weeks to come.