§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether Work Permits (UK) has approved permit applications on the grounds of shortage occupations criteria when the specific skills possessed have been described as IT skills; [71545]
(2) what steps are being taken to ensure that work permits applied for under shortage occupations criteria are only granted in circumstances where the skill required is classified as a shortage occupation skill; [71541]
(3) how many work permit applications have been (a) granted and (b) refused by Work Permits (UK) on the grounds of shortage occupations criteria in each month since June 2001; [71542]
(4) what process of investigation is undertaken by Work Permits (UK) into work permit applications that are submitted on the grounds of shortage occupations criteria; [71544]
(5) how many documented cases his Department has received from the Professional Contractors Group relating to employers in the technology sector importing labour from abroad in an effort to reduce employment costs; and what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that the work permit system is not abused in this way. [71543]
§ Beverley HughesI refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 15 July 2002,Official Report, columns 107W.