Select Committee on Standards and Privileges Fifth Report


Annex v7

Letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards from Mr Stephen Boys Smith, Immigration and Nationality Directorate, Home Office

Thank you for your letter of 25 June about Mr Vaz's involvement in the immigration case of Mrs Shahanara Matin (not Martin) who is a Citizen of Bangladesh. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

I can certainly confirm that Mr Vaz has made a number of representations to Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and Ministers on Mrs Matin's behalf. I attach a note of his involvement in the case.

IND is aware of the allegation that Mrs Matin has worked as a nanny for Mr Vaz. However, apart from recent press reports and the allegation by Ms Eggington you forwarded to us, there is no evidence to support this allegation contained in the files relating to Mrs Matin's immigration status which date back to 1992. Moreover, we did not consider this a decisive factor in determining Mrs Matin's outstanding application to remain on the basis of her marriage to a British citizen.

You will wish to be aware that solicitors acting for Mrs Matin are being informed that she will now be granted leave to remain on the basis of her marriage. This decision has been taken at ministerial level in the light of information received from Mr Vaz and Mrs Matin's solicitors relating to the health of Mr Matin. I can confirm that the case was decided solely on its individual merits, taking account of current immigration policy and procedures, including human rights legislation.

Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. I would add only that I assume you will treat the information on Mrs Matin's immigration case as confidential—incidentally as we always do in IND.

1 August 2001


 
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