§ Lord Brougham and Vauxasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will issue guidance to Members of Parliament and Peers who wish to write direct to local managers about Home Office subjects not handled at the department's headquarters.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)I announced, in answer to a Question from my noble friend Lady Gardner of Parkes on 14th December 1988 (col. 1017 ofHansard), that my right honourable friend the Home Secretary had placed in the Library a copy of the final text of the revised guidelines on the handling of representations in immigration cases. These introduced arrangements to enable Members of Parliament and Peers to correspond direct with officials in the Immigration and Nationality Department at Lunar House on routine matters.
Following that initiative, I have today placed in the Library a copy of a letter which my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has now written to all Members of Parliament drawing attention to other areas within the Home Office's overall responsibility for legislation and finance where a matter which it is not thought necessary to engage a Minister's personal attention might with advantage be raised directly with the local manager or head of the public body concerned.
As an aid to Members and Peers, annexes are attached to the letter with lists of the suggested contact points to use when dealing directly with individual prison service establishments, passport offices or non-departmental public bodies.