REGULATION OF IMMIGRATION ADVISERS

Early day motion 73, tabled 2 December 1998 by Gordon Prentice (Labour). Signed by 47 members.

That this House condemns the reported activities of Mr Abdullah Azad of the Welfare Centre in Manchester as set out in The Observer of 22nd November, which alleges that Mr Azad offered to supply forged United Kingdom passports for the payment of a fee and urged persons whose immigration status was in question to apply for asylum, thereby lengthening the queue for legitimate applicants; believes in the absence of any indication from Mr Azad that he intends to sue for defamation, that the newspaper report is true; calls on the police to investigate the matter fully with a view to bringing charges; considers that immigration and asylum advisers and solicitors who act unlawfully should be brought to book; and urges the Government to take urgent action to regulate immigration advisers.

Signatures by party: Labour 41, Labour/Co-operative 4, Liberal Democrat 1, Plaid Cymru 1.