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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