§ Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in theOfficial Report the letter of 20 May from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the hon. and learned Member for Burton containing the Government's response to the Home Affairs Committee's fourth report, Session 1992–93, on immigration advice post-UKIAS, HC 546.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe following is the text of the letter
In this letter, with the agreement of Kenneth Clarke, I am giving you the Government's response to the fourth report of the Home Affairs Committee published on 9 March entitled 'Immigration Advice Post-UKIAS'.The Committee's Report commended the Planning Group led by Mr. Malins for producing their Report. As you are aware, in a written answer to a Parliamentary Question from Sir John Wheeler on 16 March, I announced that we had asked the Planning Group to take steps to implement their proposals and establish the new body outlined in their Report. We have drawn the Committee's Fourth Report to the attention of the Planning Group so that they may consider the recommendations it contains.We have noted the concern expressed by the Committee on the proposal that the governing body of the Immigration Appeals Advisory Service should be entirely appointed. Our chief concern has to be that the new organisation should be constituted and structured so as to be able to meet its obligations under Charity Law and to satisfy us that there is proper accountability for grant paid. The proposals made in the Planning Group's Report satisfied these criteria and that Group is proceeding to implement them.The Committee also refers to the recommendation contained in its Report 'Delays in the Immigration and Nationality Department' that the IAAS should take the lead in establishing a register of reputable agencies in the immigration field. It notes that the Planning Group's proposal on extension and maintenance of liaison with other advice groups and immigration law practitioners could be extended to meet this recommendation. The Government's response to the Committee's Report confirmed that this recommendation had been drawn to the attention of both the Planning Group and the Law Society and that, should such a list (or lists) be drawn up, the Government would be ready to consider making it available to applicants.I am copying this letter to John Greenway and placing copies in the Library of the House.