Annex 1
KEN SUTTON'S REPORT
"3.17 Bob Ainsworth's letter was not
copied to the Home Secretary. When it was received in Beverley
Hughes' office, an e-mail was sent to officials in IND asking
for urgent advice on it. That e-mail was not copied to the Home
Secretary personally. It was copied to the Home Secretary's office,
as a matter of routine, but because the letter was addressed to
Beverley Hughes, and not the Home Secretary, responsibility for
action lay between her office and IND. Beverley Hughes wrote to
Bob Ainsworth on 17 March 2003 to confirm that she had raised
the issues of IND and would reply shortly. Her subsequent reply
on 10 April 2003 reflected the continuing IND view that its approach
was determined by the prevailing European law—as explained
in paragraphs 3.27-3.48 below. The officials advising Beverley
Hughes on this correspondence believed that there was no alternative
to the approach they were taking on decisions and they provided
advice accordingly. The advice reported that the proposal that
these cases might be decided locally, rather than being referred
to IND, was still being considered. Neither Bob Ainsworth's letter
nor the subsequent submission made reference to James Cameron,
forged documents or to applicants in the UK switching to the ECAA
category."
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