§ Mr. Alan WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether letters to hon. Members and signed by officials at the IND Integrated Case Work Unit are cleared by Ministers before they are sent; and what ministerial accountability is accepted for each letter. [84984]
§ Beverley HughesThe leaflet 'Information for Members of Parliament about immigration and nationality enquiries', which was published in November 2002, sets out the circumstances where it872W would not usually be appropriate for Home Office Ministers to intervene in individual immigration cases. It also gave Members information about how to correspond with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND).
Where Members make written representations directly to officials of IND, the replies are prepared in line with appropriate legislation, departmental instructions and current ministerial guidance. Ministers do not clear these replies.