§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer,Official Report, 3 June, column 81, what was the nature of the matters which led to the dismissal and suspension of officials; how many officials were dismissed and suspended in (a) the Passport Agency and (b) the immigration and nationality department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydOf the eight dismissals, five involved staff working in the Immigration and Nationality254W Department and related to abuse of position, refusal to work where posted and three instances of unauthorised absence. The three staff working in the passport agency were dismissed for failure to observe working procedures, following a criminal conviciton and custodial sentence and unauthorised absence.
Of the eight suspensions, five involved staff working in the immigration and nationality department or the immigration service. Two of these related to cases resulting in dismissal (abuse of position and refusal to attend work); two involved failure to observe working procedures and one offensive behaviour.
The three passport agency cases involved two of those resulting in dismissal (failure to observe procedures and the criminal conviction) and the other a financial irregularity.