Asylum Seekers (Hansard, 11 July 2002)

§ Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 17 June 2002]: Arrangements already exist to monitor the performance of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). Like any other directorate within Immigration Nationality Directorate (IND), NASS and its management is subject to investigation by the Home Office Internal Audit and the National Audit Office on financial issues. However I have asked the director of NASS to arrange for an inquiry into issues arising from NASS's dealings with the Landmark company to be carried out. The terms of reference for the inquiry are as follows: To carry out an investigation into and to establish the facts surrounding the transfer of NASS supported asylum seekers from the Landmark building and The Inn on the Park in May/June 2002; To review the actions of Landmark. its directors and employees during the period up to and including the removal of asylum seekers from these two properties with particular reference to the terms of NASS's contract with Landmark and to make a report on any contract compliance issues that arise; To review and report on NASS's dealings with Landmark and the asylum seekers resident in these two buildings throughout the transfer period; To review and report on the extent to which the rights and reasonable expectations of the NASS supported asylum seekers were met during this transfer period; To review more generally NASS's handling of its contracts with Landmark; and To make recommendations for any immediate actions to be taken in relation to the transfer and to make recommendations in relation to NASS's management of such contracts and similar situations in the future.